ABARTH 500 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 836 MOT tests from 58 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every ABARTH 500 has the same fault.

ABARTH 500's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 516/999. The score was calculated from the average of every ABARTH 500 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the ABARTH 500.

Check the reliability of your Abarth 500

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Petrol	2012	516/999Above average	110,226 miles	615 vehicles

How reliable is the ABARTH 500?

Based on 836 MOT tests from 58 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

MOT tests

836

Pass rate

75.5%

Median mileage

79,751 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every ABARTH 500 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 624 out of 999.

Common ABARTH 500 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 106 advisory comments and 4 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 90 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 33 advisory comments and 5 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 30 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR COIL SPRING CORRODED (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Corrosion

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 20 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: REAR SUB-FRAME CORRODED BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (5.3.3 (B) (I))

Ball joint wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 19 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or damaged ball joint. Track rod ends are counted with steering, not here.

What to inspect

Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Suspension bush issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 10 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or deteriorated bush that was not already counted as an anti-roll bar or suspension arm defect.

What to inspect

Listen for knocks and ask which bush the tester named.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT MACPHERSON STRUT TOP BUSH OR BEARING HAS EXCESSIVE WEAR OR FREE PLAY (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Lambda sensor issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 9 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lambda sensor reading or defect noted at the test.

What to inspect

Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Example MOT wording: EXHAUST LAMBDA READING AFTER 2ND FAST IDLE OUTSIDE SPECIFIED LIMITS (8.2.1.2 (C))

ABARTH 500 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2015	8	79	78.5%	Brake disc wear, Shock absorber issues
2014	7	89	79.8%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2013	7	106	70.8%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2012	13	194	76.8%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2011	6	81	79%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2010	11	193	75.1%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2009	5	94	69.1%	Tyre wear, Corrosion

What to check when buying a used ABARTH 500

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Ball joint wear. Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.
Suspension bush issues. Listen for knocks and ask which bush the tester named.
Lambda sensor issues. Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Buying a ABARTH 500?

Common problems tell you what can affect ABARTH 500s generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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