Fiat 500 Dolcevita
From 238 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 10 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 tyre seriously damaged | 10 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 6 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 4 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 3 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 3 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint likely to become detached | 3 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 2 |
| wiper blade defective | 1 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 1 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 65.7% of 500 Dolcevita failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 11.4% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £126.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 88.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all 500 Dolcevitas tested had between 9,432 and 23,610 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 17,182 median miles, the 500 Dolcevita has 0.09 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Fiat models
| Fiat 500 | 75% |
| Fiat Ducato | 75.4% |
| Fiat Panda | 71.7% |
| Fiat Punto | 65.7% |
| Fiat Doblo | 71.6% |
Common questions
What is the Fiat 500 Dolcevita MOT pass rate?
The Fiat 500 Dolcevita has a 84.5% MOT pass rate based on 238 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Fiat 500 Dolcevita?
The most common MOT failure on the Fiat 500 Dolcevita is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 10 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Fiat 500 Dolcevita at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Fiat 500 Dolcevita is 17,182 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 9,432 and 23,610 miles.
Buying a used 500 Dolcevita?
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 84.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £126 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.