Fiat 500 - 2016
185.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Fiat 500, model year 2016.
Sample size: 50,945 cars, 117,497 tests and 218,430 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: 50,945 cars
The 2016 FIAT 500 has an overall defect rate of 186 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 23% higher than the average for cars of the same year, sitting at 151 defects per 100. Notably, as mileage increases, the defect rate for this model rises significantly, particularly in the highest mileage category where it reaches 350 defects per 100 vehicles, exceeding the average by a substantial margin. While the FIAT 500 performs better than average in categories like Lights & Electrics and Equipment, it shows a concerning rate of defects in Steering, Wheels, Suspensions & Axles, and Body/Structure, where it surpasses the averages by significant percentages. Overall, this model's higher defect rates in key areas suggest potential reliability concerns as it ages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 50,945 cars
More model years for Fiat 500
Other models from Fiat
Categories
Brakes
▲ 3.6% better
75.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 82.7% worse
14.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- 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
Visibility
▲ 16.7% better
12.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 24.8% better
19.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 100 tests
- 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
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 39.8% worse
222.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
Body/Structure
▼ 42.9% worse
13.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 54.5% better
1.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- Audible warning:
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▼ 11.5% worse
12.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
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: 33,248
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 21,667
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 20,872
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 20,410
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 9,243
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 7,468
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,940
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,921
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,100
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,052
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 7,468
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4,819
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,206
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,073
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,821
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,675
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,977
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,912
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,236
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,226