Fiat 500 - 2012
268.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Fiat 500, model year 2012.
Sample size: 31,449 cars, 75,967 tests and 203,601 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 31,449 cars
The 2012 FIAT 500 has an overall defect rate of 268 per 100 cars, which is 8.9% higher than the average for that year, which stands at 246 per 100. Notably, this model shows a significant increase in defects as mileage increases, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category, where the defect rate reaches 417 per 100. While it performs better than average in crucial areas such as brakes and steering, it struggles significantly with wheels, suspensions, and axles, as well as body structure, where the defect rates are considerably higher than the average. This indicates that while the FIAT 500 excels in some areas, it may require more attention as it ages, especially in terms of its suspension and body integrity.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 31,449 cars
More model years for Fiat 500
Other models from Fiat
Categories
Brakes
▲ 25.8% better
77.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 62.1% better
5.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 15.1% better
16.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 35.7% better
39.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 32.7% worse
324.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 57.6% worse
41.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
Equipment
▲ 72.6% better
1.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Audible warning:
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▼ 30.1% worse
30.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 21,947
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18,889
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 13,611
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 13,280
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 11,009
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,535
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,487
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,699
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,291
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 6,945
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 6,945
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,810
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,340
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,094
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,758
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,625
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,247
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,166
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,163
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,133