2019 Fiat 500L petrol: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the petrol Fiat 500L first registered in 2019 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 442 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: there were only 442 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 2019 Fiat 500L petrol?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2019 Fiat 500L petrol than on all cars registered in 2019.
- Coil springs16.8× usualFiat 500L8.4% All 2019 cars0.5%
Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, against 0.4% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanicAt 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.
Common 2019 Fiat 500L petrol MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2019 Fiat 500L petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres24% 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.
- Brakes14% 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.
- Suspension12% 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.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors9% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Lights and electrics7% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Seats and seatbelts3% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2019 Fiat 500L petrol
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 16.8× as often on the 2019 Fiat 500L petrol as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Fiat 500L?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Fiat 500L compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 369 | Tyres 22% |
| 2020 | 192 | Tyres 24% |
| 2018 | 1,784 | Tyres 29% |
| 2017 | 2,616 | Tyres 32% |
| 2016 | 4,831 | Tyres 31% |
| 2015 | 8,853 | Tyres 33% |
| 2014 | 20,230 | Tyres 34% |
| 2013 | 12,338 | Tyres 34% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Fiat 500L cars first registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score