2007 Fiat 500: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2007 Fiat 500?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2007 Fiat 500 than on all cars registered in 2007.

• Shock absorbers2.4× usual
  Fiat 500

  19% All 2007 cars

  7.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 2.1% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

• Individual direction indicators2.8× usual
  Fiat 500

  9.4% All 2007 cars

  3.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.5% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2007 Fiat 500 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2007 Fiat 500 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  51% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  37% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Tyres
  33% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  33% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Exhaust and emissions
  21% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  14% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2007 Fiat 500

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2007 Fiat 500 as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2007 Fiat 500 as on other cars the same age.)
3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?