Fiat 500 C MOT Failures
An analysis of 70,882 real DVSA MOT tests on the Fiat 500 C — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Fiat 500 C fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Fiat 500 C is stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/... — this model is 89 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 70,882 MOT tests, 2.66% of all Fiat 500 C tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include abs fault (42x the fleet average), suspension component damaged or corroded (92x the fleet average), cable damaged or knotted (22x the fleet average), and emissions failure (17x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Fiat 500 C's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Brakes, Exhaust & Emissions, Bodywork. If you're inspecting a Fiat 500 C before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Fiat 500 C's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Fiat 500 C specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension component damaged or corroded (92x the average) and stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/... (89x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (51x) and body panel damage (45x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Fiat 500 C specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are cable, rod or joint insecure (47x the average) and body panel damage (39x). suspension component damaged or corroded (27x) and abs fault (22x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Fiat 500 C specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/... (20x the average) and abs fault (18x). headlight fault (16x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (14x) also appear frequently.
The shift from suspension component damaged or corroded at lower mileages to stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/... at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
What to check before buying a Fiat 500 C
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Fiat 500 C:
Lights & Electrics — check for stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/.... Suspension — check for abs fault, suspension component damaged or corroded, suspension pin, bush or joint worn. Brakes — check for cable damaged or knotted.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Fiat 500 C?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Fiat 500 C MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Fiat 500 C?
Based on 70,882 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/... — at 89x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include abs fault and suspension component damaged or corroded.
Is the Fiat 500 C reliable based on MOT data?
The Fiat 500 C has 16 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/.... Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Fiat 500 C most commonly fails on stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/... and abs fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are suspension component damaged or corroded and stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/....
How do I check a Fiat 500 C's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.