2017 Fiat 500L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,341 MOT tests, the 2017 Fiat 500L recorded an 82.1% pass rate. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 13.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, wipers and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 259 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.1% in the 0-30k band and 27.8% in the 90-120k band, a 14.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 2.0pp more often than diesel ones (18.8% vs 16.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 428 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 390 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 262 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 241 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 159 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.1% | 114 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 259 |
| 2 | Wipers | 256 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 202 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 197 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 143 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 133 |
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 | 25.0% | 1,335 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 888 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.3% | 446 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 338 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 173 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 171 |
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 | 1,876 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,571 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 731 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 133 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,020 | 18.8% |
| Diesel | 2,321 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,015 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 1,043 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 1,053 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 1,095 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 1,135 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 500L
On a 2017 500L, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.9% 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
How many 2017 Fiat 500Ls pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 5,341 2017 Fiat 500L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Fiat 500L?
Suspension, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2017 500L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,341 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.