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Model reliability
Fiat 500c reliability
The Fiat 500c fails its MOT about as often as most cars 6 to 10 years old: 27.5% of 10,789 tests failed in 2023, against 24.4% on average.
Up to 5 years old
17.6% failed their MOT
From 581 MOT tests of Fiat 500cs this age. A small sample, so take it as a rough guide: a few cars either way can move these figures.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 3× as oftenWipers6% vs 2.1%
Fails 73% more oftenWashers1.9% vs 1.1%
Fails 2× as oftenBrake performance1.2% vs 0.5%
Advised 56% more oftenTyre condition13.1% vs 8.4%Fix about £90
6 to 10 years old
27.5% failed their MOT
From 10,789 MOT tests of Fiat 500cs this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 9× as oftenShock absorbers6.8% vs 0.8%Fix about £200
Fails 3× as oftenSuspension arms5.8% vs 2.3%
Fails 83% more oftenExhaust system1.1% vs 0.6%Fix about £150
Fails 10× as oftenMacpherson strut1% vs 0.1%
Advised 5× as oftenShock absorbers14.6% vs 3%Fix about £200
Advised 49% more oftenSuspension arms7.9% vs 5.3%
Advised 3× as oftenSprings4.6% vs 1.5%Fix about £150
Advised 3× as oftenExhaust system4.5% vs 1.4%Fix about £150
Over 10 years old
40.2% failed their MOT
From 5,917 MOT tests of Fiat 500cs this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 5× as oftenShock absorbers9.5% vs 1.8%Fix about £200
Fails 82% more oftenSuspension arms9.3% vs 5.1%
Fails 62% more oftenRegistration plate lamp(s)3.4% vs 2.1%Fix about £30
Fails 5× as oftenMacpherson strut1.8% vs 0.4%
Advised 3× as oftenShock absorbers16.4% vs 5%Fix about £200
Advised 2× as oftenSprings12.3% vs 6.3%Fix about £150
Advised 2× as oftenExhaust system11.1% vs 5.3%Fix about £150
Advised 6× as oftenMacpherson strut5.8% vs 1%
Checking a Fiat 500c 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.