2020 Fiat 500X — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,950 MOT tests, the 2020 Fiat 500X recorded a 91.6% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2020 500X sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and emissions & environmental (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 122 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.8% once past 60-90k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.6% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 304 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 145 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 126 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 104 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 55 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.7% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 122 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 114 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 4 | Washers | 90 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 36 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 27 |
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 | 24.9% | 1,729 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 670 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 493 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.3% | 160 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 127 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 44 |
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 | 4,350 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,393 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 188 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 90 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 2,268 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 2,281 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 2,309 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 500X
On a 2020 500X, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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 2020 Fiat 500Xs pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 6,950 2020 Fiat 500X MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Fiat 500X?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.1%).
Does the 2020 500X get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,950 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.