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Abarth 500 car check

Find out if a Abarth 500 has outstanding finance, has been written off or stolen, how many owners it’s had, and which known problems apply to the generation you’re looking at.

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian. Results in under a minute.

Typical price
£14,02454 at dealers
MOT failure rate
23.4%21k tests
Known problems
5across 312
Full report
£7.49one-off, no subscription

Which 500 are you looking at?

Each 500 generation has its own weak spots. Here are the known problems.

  1. Wheel bearing premature wear

    Wear item 312

    The Abarth 500's wheel bearings fail at significantly higher rates than the fleet average, with MOT data showing failures up to 28.3 times higher than typical cars. The performance-oriented suspension geometry and wider tyres place increased lateral loads on the wheel bearings. Additionally, the car's enthusiast ownership often involves spirited driving and track use, accelerating bearing wear. Front bearings are more commonly affected than rears, with failure rates peaking around 40,000-60,000 miles.

    What to check: Jack up each wheel in turn and spin it by hand - a worn bearing will feel rough, notchy, or have obvious resistance when turning. Grasp the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock positions and try to rock it - excessive play indicates bearing wear, though some play is normal. Listen carefully while spinning e...

  2. Suspension bushes and joints premature wear

    Wear item 312

    The Abarth 500's sport-tuned suspension uses harder bushes and more aggressive geometry than the standard Fiat 500, leading to accelerated wear of suspension joints and bushes. MOT data shows this model fails suspension bush inspections at 31.8 times the national fleet average, with failures occurring even on low-mileage examples. The car's short wheelbase and stiff setup concentrate loads on the front suspension components. Later production cars show similar failure rates, suggesting this is inherent to the design rather than early production issues.

    What to check: Walk around the car and push down firmly on each corner - excessive bouncing or knocking sounds indicate worn damper bushes or top mounts. Visually inspect the front suspension top mounts through the engine bay - look for cracked rubber or separated metal sleeves. Check the front wheels for uneve...

  3. Shock absorber bush failure

    Wear item 312

    The Abarth 500's performance-oriented dampers use firmer bushes and mounting hardware than standard Fiat 500s, leading to premature failure of shock absorber bushes and top mounts. MOT data shows failures at 32.1 times the fleet average, affecting cars across all mileage ranges including very low-mileage examples. The stiff suspension setup and short-travel dampers put higher loads on the mounting points. This issue affects both front strut top mounts and rear damper bushes.

    What to check: Open the bonnet and visually inspect the suspension strut top mounts - look for cracked rubber, separated metal components, or obvious deterioration around the mounting points. Check for any visible oil leakage around the damper shafts, which indicates seal failure rather than bush wear but often...

  4. Front spring premature failure

    Wear item 312

    The Abarth 500 uses significantly stiffer front springs than the standard Fiat 500 to control body roll and improve handling response. MOT data shows spring failures at 15.4 times the fleet average across all mileage bands, with some failures occurring on very low-mileage cars. The shorter, stiffer springs operate under higher stress loads and are more susceptible to fatigue cracking. Spring failures typically manifest as fractured coils or separated spring ends, causing the car to sit low on one corner.

    What to check: Walk around the car and check that it sits level - a car sitting noticeably lower on one corner indicates a broken spring. Look for any obvious gaps or uneven spacing in the spring coils by looking through the wheel spokes. Listen for any rattling or knocking sounds when pushing down on each corn...

  5. Exhaust system excessive noise

    Wear item 312

    The Abarth 500 fails MOT noise tests at 31.4 times the fleet average, primarily due to the performance exhaust system design and modifications made by owners. The factory Record Monza exhaust is already quite loud, and many owners fit aftermarket systems or remove silencers. Additionally, the exhaust mounting points are prone to failure, allowing the exhaust to move and contact the underbody, creating additional noise and potential damage to the system itself.

    What to check: Visually inspect the exhaust system from underneath the car, looking for obvious damage, missing sections, or aftermarket modifications that may exceed legal noise limits. Check all exhaust mounting points and rubber hangers - loose or broken mounts allow the exhaust to move and contact other com...

What 500s cost at dealers now

From 54 used 500s we track on UK dealer websites.

Typical asking price
£14,024
Typical mileage
32,384 miles
Price change vs last month
-36.6%

500 MOT results

23.4%

of 500 MOT tests end in a fail, from 21,466 tests.

Most common reasons for failing

  1. Suspension component damaged or corrodedSuspension
  2. ABS faultSuspension
  3. Suspension pin, bush or joint wornSuspension

Check the 500 you’re buying

One report covers outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and previous owners from Experian, plus MOT history, mileage and the known problems for its generation.

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian.

What the check includes

500 questions

Is the Abarth 500 reliable?

23.4% of 500 models fail their MOT based on 21,466 tests analysed. That’s about average for the class. There are 5 known problems to watch for, the most serious being wheel bearing premature wear. A full history check shows whether a specific car has had related write-offs or insurance claims.

What are the main problems with a Abarth 500?

The most serious known issues are wheel bearing premature wear, suspension bushes and joints premature wear, shock absorber bush failure. Our car check flags whether a specific 500 has been written off or had insurance claims linked to these faults.

How do I check if a Abarth 500 has outstanding finance?

Enter the registration on this page. We query Experian’s finance database and return any outstanding agreements within a minute. If finance is still owed, the finance company can legally repossess the car even after you’ve paid the seller. At £7.49 it’s the cheapest way to avoid a car that isn’t legally for sale.

How do I check if a Abarth 500 has been written off?

Our check queries Experian’s insurance write-off database for Cat A, B, S and N markers. A Cat S or N 500 has been structurally or non-structurally damaged and repaired. This doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, but it affects resale value and some insurers won’t cover it. The check costs £7.49.

Can I check a Abarth 500 for free?

You can check MOT history free on GOV.UK, which shows past test results and advisories. What it won’t show is outstanding finance, write-offs or theft markers, which are the things that actually cost you money after you’ve bought. Our full check adds all of that for £7.49, using Experian data.

Is a Abarth 500 HPI check worth it?

HPI is one brand of car check. Our check uses the same Experian data covering finance, stolen, write-off and keeper history, plus MOT analysis and known 500 faults that HPI doesn’t include. At £7.49 it’s typically less than half the price of an HPI check.

What does a Abarth 500 fail its MOT on?

The most common MOT failure on the 500 is suspension component damaged or corroded. 23.4% of 500 models fail overall, based on 21,466 tests. Checking a car’s full MOT history before buying shows you recurring problems the seller might not mention.

More on the 500

Other Abarth car checks

Abarth 59516.5% MOT failure rate Abarth 595c14% MOT failure rate

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian. MOT data from DVSA. Known problems from GetCarWise analysis. Updated October 2026.