Abarth 500
From 10,182 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 462 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 462 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 257 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 233 |
| a shock absorber bush excessively worn | 191 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 166 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 141 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 115 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 107 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 104 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 97 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.8% of 500 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 12.4% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £111.
Abarth 500 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 212 newly registered in the past year with 102 leaving, a net gain of 110. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 5,422 | 555 | +49 | -49 | +0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 5,455 | 522 | +34 | -13 | +21 |
| 2025 Q1 | 5,414 | 542 | +55 | -0 | +102 |
| 2024 Q4 | 5,354 | 500 | +74 | -40 | +34 |
| 2024 Q3 | 5,389 | 431 | +146 | -0 | +152 |
| 2024 Q2 | 5,262 | 406 | +92 | -31 | +61 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,185 | 422 | +70 | -40 | +30 |
| 2023 Q4 | 5,171 | 406 | +49 | -58 | -9 |
10 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | Petrol | 3,604 | 68% |
| 500 C S-A | Petrol | 346 | 6% |
| 500 Custom | Petrol | 330 | 6% |
| 500E | Battery Electric | 294 | 6% |
| 500E Turismo | Battery Electric | 185 | 3% |
| 500 C | Petrol | 141 | 3% |
| 500E Scorpionissima | Battery Electric | 135 | 3% |
| 500C | Petrol | 126 | 2% |
| 500 Custom S-A | Petrol | 86 | 2% |
| 500 S-A | Petrol | 79 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 74.6% | a shock absorber bush excessively worn, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 80.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a shock absorber bush excessively worn |
| 2014 | 77.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a shock absorber bush excessively worn |
| 2013 | 79.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
4 earlier years
| 2012 | 77.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2011 | 76% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 78.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2009 | 76.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all 500s tested had between 67,335 and 89,561 miles on the clock.
At 79,179 median miles, the 500 has 0.028 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Abarth models
| Abarth 595 | 85.1% |
| Abarth 595C | 87.8% |
| Abarth 124 Spider Multiair | 92.1% |
| Abarth 124 Spider Multiair Auto | 91.2% |
| Abarth 695 | 88.9% |
Common questions
What is the Abarth 500 MOT pass rate?
The Abarth 500 has a 77.8% MOT pass rate based on 10,182 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Abarth 500?
The most common MOT failure on the Abarth 500 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 462 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Abarth 500s are on UK roads?
There are 5,422 Abarth 500s currently licensed on UK roads, with 555 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Abarth 500 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Abarth 500 is 79,179 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 67,335 and 89,561 miles.
Buying a used 500?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 77.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £111 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.