2012 Fiat 500L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,804 MOT tests, the 2012 Fiat 500L recorded a 74.3% pass rate. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, pins and bushes and catalyst emissions — shock absorbers alone was recorded 142 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.3% versus 10.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 242 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 180 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 113 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 110 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 108 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 87 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 142 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 119 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 90 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 5 | Wipers | 57 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 52 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.6% | 643 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.6% | 534 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 438 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 248 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 146 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 144 |
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 | 95 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 698 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 735 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 242 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 402 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 377 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 368 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 332 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 325 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 500L
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2012 Fiat 500Ls pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 1,804 2012 Fiat 500L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Fiat 500L?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.0%).
Does the 2012 500L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,804 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.