Fiat 500E Red MOT pass rate & common failures
The Fiat 500E Red appears in 1,058 MOT tests spanning model years 2021–2024, and 90.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), the 500E Red comes out 1.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.5%) 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 71 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 500E Red model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 182 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Suspension |
| 2022 | 860 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.3% | 56 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 37 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 30 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.2% | 23 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 4 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 2 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.2% | 2 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 71 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 3 | Wipers | 17 |
| 4 | Washers | 16 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 4 |
| 8 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 4 |
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 | 16.7% | 177 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.8% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.4% | 36 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 30 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 4 |
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 | 967 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 86 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 110 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 947 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a Fiat 500E Red
- Suspension (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat 500E Red?
90.5% of the 1,058 Fiat 500E Red MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.6% fail rate, across model years 2021–2024.
What does the Fiat 500E Red most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 5.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,058 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.