2021 Fiat 500E — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,540 MOT tests, the 2021 Fiat 500E recorded an 88.0% pass rate. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.7%) and visibility (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 156 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.7% | 118 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.5% | 85 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.6% | 40 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 28 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 156 |
| 2 | Wipers | 76 |
| 3 | Washers | 35 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 16 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 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 | 20.1% | 309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.2% | 65 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.6% | 55 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 46 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 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 | 1,337 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 192 | 17.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 730 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 809 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 500E
On a 2021 500E, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
- Visibility (5.5% 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 (2.6% 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.
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 500Es pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 1,540 2021 Fiat 500E MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat 500E?
Suspension, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by visibility (5.5%).
Does the 2021 500E get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,540 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.