2021 Fiat 500L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 452 MOT tests, the 2021 Fiat 500L recorded an 85.2% pass rate. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.4%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: visibility, recorded in 10.8% of tests against 4.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and coil spring — wipers alone was recorded 63 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 10.8% | 49 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.0% | 18 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 15 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 14 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 63 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 13 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 4 |
| 6 | Washers | 2 |
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 | 16.6% | 75 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 31 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 23 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.4% | 2 |
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 | 366 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 79 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 220 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 222 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 500L
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (10.8% 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 (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2021 Fiat 500Ls pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 452 2021 Fiat 500L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat 500L?
Visibility, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.0%).
Does the 2021 500L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 452 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.