FIAT 500 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 22,228 MOT tests from 1,721 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every FIAT 500 has the same fault.

FIAT 500's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 561/999. The score was calculated from the average of every FIAT 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 FIAT 500.

FIAT 500 (example)

Check the reliability of your Fiat 500

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Petrol	2018	848/999Excellent	72,581 miles	5,582 vehicles
Petrol	2017	797/999Very good	72,298 miles	11,348 vehicles
Petrol	2016	676/999Good	77,413 miles	22,946 vehicles
Petrol	2014	625/999Good	81,050 miles	27,122 vehicles
Petrol	2013	580/999Above average	91,796 miles	28,129 vehicles
Petrol	2012	541/999Above average	105,001 miles	26,787 vehicles
Diesel	2010	362/999Fair	94,482 miles	591 vehicles
Diesel	2009	361/999Fair	98,860 miles	513 vehicles
Petrol	2009	420/999Average	80,088 miles	7,384 vehicles
Petrol	2008	400/999Average	79,299 miles	5,789 vehicles

How reliable is the FIAT 500?

Based on 22,228 MOT tests from 1,721 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

1,721

MOT tests

22,228

Pass rate

74.8%

Median mileage

67,807 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every FIAT 500 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 653 out of 999.

Common FIAT 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 4,104 advisory comments and 378 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: OFFSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 536 advisory comments and 872 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 shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS LIGHT MISTING OF OIL (5.3.2 (B))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 1,208 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))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 897 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))

Corrosion

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 700 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))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 669 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 512 advisory comments and 127 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: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Suspension arm issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 323 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, corroded, or damaged suspension arm or its pin.

What to inspect

Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM PIN OR BUSH EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

FIAT 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
2025	6	1	100%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2024	9	1	100%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023	21	25	88%	Headlamp faults
2022	30	62	90.3%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2021	26	87	92%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2020	33	157	79%	Brake disc wear, Tyre wear
2019	60	350	86.9%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2018	65	452	85.2%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2017	103	884	82.1%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2016	120	1161	79.1%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2015	194	2212	76.6%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2014	220	2773	76.1%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2013	196	2774	75.2%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2012	171	2734	72.6%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2011	114	1951	72%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2010	141	2597	71.8%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2009	124	2454	72%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2008	65	1415	70.5%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues

What to check when buying a used FIAT 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.
Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Suspension arm issues. Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.

Buying a FIAT 500?

Common problems tell you what can affect FIAT 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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