← All Abarth modelsModel reliability
Abarth 500 reliability
The Abarth 500 fails its MOT less often than most cars over 10 years old: 33.1% of 3,383 tests failed in 2023, against 39.7% on average.
6 to 10 years old
30.8% failed their MOT
From 2,151 MOT tests of Abarth 500s this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 63% more oftenTyre condition5.7% vs 3.5%Fix about £90
Fails 7× as oftenShock absorbers5.4% vs 0.8%Fix about £200
Fails 2× as oftenSuspension arms5.2% vs 2.3%
Fails 72% more oftenHeadlamp aim4.3% vs 2.5%Fix about £30
Advised 47% more oftenMechanical brake components24.4% vs 16.6%
Advised 4× as oftenShock absorbers11.6% vs 3%Fix about £200
Advised 2× as oftenSuspension arms11.5% vs 5.3%
Advised 5× as oftenSprings6.9% vs 1.5%Fix about £150
Over 10 years old
33.1% failed their MOT
From 3,383 MOT tests of Abarth 500s this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 92% more oftenTransmission5% vs 2.6%
Fails 83% more oftenShock absorbers3.3% vs 1.8%Fix about £200
Fails 3× as oftenWheel bearings2.7% vs 0.9%
Fails 4× as oftenMacpherson strut1.7% vs 0.4%
Advised 34% more oftenMechanical brake components22.6% vs 16.9%
Advised 68% more oftenSprings10.6% vs 6.3%Fix about £150
Advised 64% more oftenShock absorbers8.2% vs 5%Fix about £200
Advised 5× as oftenMacpherson strut5.2% vs 1%
Safety recalls
1 DVSA recall for the Abarth 500
Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.
R/2023/31424 Mar 2025Built 2022–2023Incorrect information displayed on the registration document and CoC (certificate of Conformity)
On affected vehicles incorrect data has been entered on the registration document and correspondingly the Certificate of Conformity (CoC).
Fix: The registration document must be amended and a new CoC issued.
Recalled models: ABARTH 500 · 591 vehicles
DVSA vehicle safety recalls (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence).
Checking a Abarth 500 before you buy
Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.