2018 Fiat 500C — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,185 MOT tests, the 2018 Fiat 500C recorded an 89.8% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 9.7%, so the 2018 500C sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.5%) and tyres (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 129 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 22.2% in the 60-90k band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.5% | 142 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.9% | 125 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 92 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 84 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 64 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 129 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 3 | Washers | 48 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 46 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 46 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 35 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.6% | 720 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 486 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 313 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 185 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 95 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 75 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,020 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,059 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 99 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 626 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 631 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 644 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 628 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 656 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 500C
On a 2018 500C, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Fiat 500Cs pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 3,185 2018 Fiat 500C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat 500C?
Visibility, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.9%).
Does the 2018 500C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,185 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.