Tiny Italian firecracker with a giant personality
The Abarth 500 is the pocket rocket version of the Fiat 500, injecting genuine performance character into the retro city car formula. It competes with the Mini Cooper S and Ford Fiesta ST but trades outright precision for Italian charm, charisma, and a glorious exhaust note. Popular with enthusiasts who want a fun daily driver that stands out from the crowd without breaking the bank.
We track 5 known issues across the Abarth 500 range, with 1 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Abarth 500? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
312 (2008–2016) — Engine options included the 1.4L T-Jet. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Wheel bearing premature wear (£150–£300 to address).
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.
A failing wheel bearing creates increasing noise and vibration, and in severe cases can cause wheel wobble or even complete bearing collapse. While gradual bearing wear allows continued driving for some time, a severely damaged bearing risks wheel separation and should be replaced immediately. Replacement costs £150-400 per wheel depending on whether it's front or rear and the availability of the bearing unit.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
Worn suspension bushes cause poor handling, reduced steering precision, and accelerated tyre wear. The car remains safe to drive but handling becomes vague and unpredictable. Replacement of individual bushes costs £50-150 each, but multiple components typically need attention simultaneously, leading to bills of £300-800 for comprehensive suspension refreshing.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
Failed shock absorber bushes cause harsh ride quality, poor noise isolation, and reduced damping effectiveness. The suspension becomes crashy over bumps and road noise increases noticeably. While not immediately dangerous, handling precision suffers and tyre wear may increase. Replacement typically costs £150-400 depending on whether front struts or rear dampers are affected.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
A broken spring causes the car to sit low on the affected corner, compromises handling safety, and can damage the tyre or other suspension components if driven. The car should not be driven with a known broken spring as it affects braking stability and cornering safety. Spring replacement typically costs £100-200 per side, but specialists recommend replacing both front springs together to maintain handling balance.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
Excessive exhaust noise leads to MOT failure and potential legal issues if above the statutory limit. Loose exhaust systems can contact other components, causing damage to fuel lines, brake lines, or the underbody. Repairs range from simple mount replacement (£20-50) to full exhaust system replacement (£300-800) depending on the extent of damage or modification needed to meet legal requirements.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Abarth 500 common problems page.
Based on 33k real DVSA MOT tests, the Abarth 500 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is cable, rod or joint insecure at 74x the fleet average, followed by suspension component damaged or corroded (40x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Abarth 500 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 9k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£400–£600).
See the full Abarth 500 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Abarth 500 is a reasonable used buy provided you check for the issues outlined above. None of the problems we track are insurmountable, but they do reward buyers who inspect thoroughly and verify the service history before committing. The 2016+ facelifted 595 models are the pick, gaining updated headlights, LED running lights, improved cooling, and a more refined cabin. The Competizione and Esseesse trims offer the most focused driving experience with Koni suspension and mechanical limited-slip diffs. Earlier 2009-2012 cars are cheaper but show their age inside. The 2019 70th Anniversary is a collector's item worth seeking out.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Abarth 500, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Abarth 500 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.