2021 Fiat 500E La Prima — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,016 MOT tests, the 2021 Fiat 500E La Prima recorded an 86.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (8.7% fail rate), the 2021 500E La Prima comes out 5.1pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.0% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 342 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 242 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 151 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 115 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 61 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.2% | 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 | 342 |
| 2 | Wipers | 106 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 4 | Washers | 38 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 22 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 13 |
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 | 18.3% | 553 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.7% | 171 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.5% | 76 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 72 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 31 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 8 |
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 | 2,687 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 317 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,455 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 1,559 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 500E La Prima
On a 2021 500E La Prima, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 (5.0% 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 (3.8% 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
How many 2021 Fiat 500E La Primas pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 3,016 2021 Fiat 500E La Prima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat 500E La Prima?
Suspension, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2021 500E La Prima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,016 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.