Used car guide · 1937–2026

Fiat 500 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Fiat 500, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 1,000,146 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1971 Fiat 500

Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Fiat 500 as a whole.

213on the UK register at the end of 2025
ProbablyMOT-exempt (40+ years old), unless substantially changed
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 1971 car
  • Rust and structure

    Look underneath at the sills, floor, chassis rails and jacking points. Rust in the structure costs far more to fix than paint bubbles.

  • MOT-exempt isn’t roadworthy

    Cars over 40 don’t need an MOT, but they must still be safe. A voluntary MOT or a specialist inspection is worth the money.

  • Paperwork

    Old MOT certificates, bills and restoration photos show how it has been looked after. Check the logbook matches the car’s VIN and engine number.

  • Originality

    Changes from standard affect value and insurance. Ask what has been replaced or modified.

  • Insurance

    Classic insurance is often cheaper but may limit mileage and use. Get a quote before you buy.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820071973197219711970196919681967196619651964196319381937

What usually goes wrong with a Fiat 500?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Worn clutch (ex-learner cars)

    Cars registered 2008–2020 · Manual gearbox

    Lots of 500s were driving school cars, which can wear the clutch early. Owners also report costly gearbox faults.

    At the viewing: On the test drive, accelerate hard in a high gear. If the revs rise without the car speeding up, the clutch is slipping. Notchy changes are another warning sign.

    If it needs doing: Clutch replacement, about £250–£600. ClickMechanic

    Source: What Car?: used Fiat 500 advice

  • Several recalls by build date

    Cars registered 2008–2020 · All engines

    There have been recalls for driveshafts, brakes, steering and lights, plus a fuel leak that could stall early cars built in autumn 2008.

    At the viewing: Ask a Fiat dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

    Source: What Car?: used Fiat 500 advice

  • Warning lights and electrical faults

    Cars registered 2008–2020 · All engines

    Owners often report dashboard warning lights and electrical gremlins.

    At the viewing: Make sure every warning light comes on and then goes out at start-up, and test the air con and electrics.

    Source: What Car?: used Fiat 500 advice

Common Fiat 500 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014.

    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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Coil springs

    up to 1.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009 and 2014.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Diesel

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Coil springs

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Fiat 500 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2022 Fiat 500 did best (91% passed first time, 2 points above all 2022 cars) and the 2015 did worst (66%, 8 points below all 2015 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202393%92% +1736
202291%89% +212,661
202188%87% +124,941
202086%87% -141,358
201984%85% -163,151
201880%83% -369,716
201776%80% -467,138
201671%77% -692,729
201566%74% -8109,474
201465%70% -5120,269
201364%67% -3103,909
201262%64% -282,129
201159%62% -360,514
201057%60% -360,893
200955%59% -457,781
200855%57% -232,374
200756%57% -1373 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Fiat 500

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

  1. Has the clutch been replaced, and was it ever a driving school car?
  2. Has all the recall work been done?
  3. Have there been any electrical faults?
  4. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the Fiat 500 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the Fiat 500 as on other cars the same age.)
  6. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Fiat 500 as on other cars the same age.)

Looking at a Fiat 500?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score