Fiat 500E La Prima MOT pass rate & common failures
The Fiat 500E La Prima appears in 4,843 MOT tests spanning model years 2021–2023, and 87.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (8.5% fail rate), the 500E La Prima comes out 3.7pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.5%) and tyres (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 431 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 500E La Prima model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,016 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Suspension |
| 2022 | 1,808 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.5% | 316 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 245 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 160 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 108 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.2% | 11 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 10 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.2% | 8 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 431 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 143 |
| 3 | Wipers | 124 |
| 4 | Washers | 68 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 40 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 17 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 12 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 9 |
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 | 17.9% | 866 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.0% | 244 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.9% | 142 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 111 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 43 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 24 |
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 | 4,347 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 479 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,505 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 3,336 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a Fiat 500E La Prima
- Suspension (6.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat 500E La Prima?
87.8% of the 4,843 Fiat 500E La Prima MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.2% fail rate, across model years 2021–2023.
What does the Fiat 500E La Prima most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 6.5% of tests, then tyres (5.1%).
Methodology & source. Based on 4,843 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.