2021 Fiat 500X — MOT failures & pass rate
3,986 MOT tests on the 2021 Fiat 500X are in this dataset, and 91.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (7.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 76 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 500X fails 6.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 175 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 95 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 63 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 43 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 29 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 20 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 3 | Washers | 52 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 36 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 22 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 20 |
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 | 22.8% | 907 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 329 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 264 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 77 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 51 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 25 |
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 | 2,431 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,410 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59 | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 1,947 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 1,975 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 500X
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.6% 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 2021 Fiat 500Xs pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 3,986 2021 Fiat 500X MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat 500X?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2021 500X get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,986 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.