2016 Fiat 500L — MOT failures & pass rate
9,797 MOT tests on the 2016 Fiat 500L are in this dataset, and 82.7% of them passed. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and suspension (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 380 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.4% in the 0-30k band and 28.6% in the 120-150k band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.8% fail against 18.1% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 9,791 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 773 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 532 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 522 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 386 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 375 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 269 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 380 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 324 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 314 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 305 |
| 5 | Wipers | 293 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 244 |
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 | 25.3% | 2,476 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 1,849 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.1% | 893 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 796 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.2% | 413 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 345 |
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 | 2,276 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,913 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,018 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 484 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,236 | 18.1% |
| Petrol | 3,555 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,878 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 1,926 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 1,954 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 2,015 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 2,024 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 500L
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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 2016 Fiat 500Ls pass their MOT?
82.7% of the 9,797 2016 Fiat 500L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat 500L?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2016 500L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,797 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.