2017 Fiat 500X — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Fiat 500X passed 86.8% of its 26,875 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.8%) and tyres (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 1,370 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.8% versus 6.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (15.0% vs 12.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 1,564 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,344 |
| 3 | Steering | 3.7% | 1,006 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 599 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 524 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.7% | 451 |
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 | 1,370 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,212 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 788 |
| 4 | Washers | 450 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 404 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 291 |
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 | 28.2% | 7,589 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.9% | 4,265 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.3% | 2,782 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 1,641 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.7% | 1,541 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 676 |
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 | 7,337 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 14,478 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,429 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 568 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,203 | 12.6% |
| Diesel | 6,672 | 15.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,112 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 5,139 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 5,379 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 5,548 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 5,697 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 500X
On a 2017 500X, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Steering (3.7% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 500Xs pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 26,875 2017 Fiat 500X MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Fiat 500X?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2017 500X get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,875 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.