2015 Fiat 500L — MOT failures & pass rate
18,546 MOT tests on the 2015 Fiat 500L are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 17.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.9%) and suspension (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, headlamp aim and stop lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 915 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (20.5% vs 18.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 1,647 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 1,149 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,141 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 903 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.0% | 752 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 702 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 915 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 705 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 625 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 611 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 529 |
| 6 | Wipers | 512 |
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 | 28.0% | 5,183 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 3,974 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.0% | 2,041 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.3% | 1,723 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.6% | 1,032 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 942 |
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 | 2,149 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 8,826 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,590 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,573 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 339 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,029 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 5,517 | 18.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,607 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 3,587 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 3,720 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 3,834 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 3,798 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 500L
On a 2015 500L, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (6.2% 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 2015 Fiat 500Ls pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 18,546 2015 Fiat 500L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Fiat 500L?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).
Does the 2015 500L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,546 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.