Fiat Cinquecento MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 29 model years and 2,064 tests, the Fiat Cinquecento passes its MOT 73.9% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 24.7% of the time, so this is 1.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests against 12.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 179 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 29.4% in the 150k+ band, a 12.7-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 24.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cinquecento model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 169 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 275 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 299 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 483 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 530 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 267 | 72.3% | 27.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 326 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 259 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 179 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.2% | 169 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 159 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 130 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.2% | 66 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 179 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 174 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 171 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 166 |
| 5 | Washers | 100 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 97 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 93 |
| 8 | Wipers | 89 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.3% | 460 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.1% | 436 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 402 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 391 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.2% | 335 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 217 |
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 | 306 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 813 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 529 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 273 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 105 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 521 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 462 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 402 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 351 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 328 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Cinquecento
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Cinquecento?
73.9% of the 2,064 Fiat Cinquecento MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.1% fail rate, across model years 1993–2021.
What does the Fiat Cinquecento most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, then brakes (12.6%).
How much does mileage affect Cinquecento MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.4% for 150k+, a 12.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,064 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.