Fiat Cinquecento
From 687 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 the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 38 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 38 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 34 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 30 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 22 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 20 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 20 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 19 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 18 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 17 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 17 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.3% of Cinquecento failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 8.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £172.
Fiat Cinquecento on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 82 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 82. At this rate, roughly 18.1 years until none remain. Now at 3% of its peak (48,029 in 1999 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 220 | 1,224 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 228 | 1,222 | +0 | -12 | -12 |
| 2025 Q1 | 208 | 1,254 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
| 2024 Q4 | 220 | 1,258 | +0 | -48 | -48 |
| 2024 Q3 | 245 | 1,281 | +2 | -25 | -23 |
| 2024 Q2 | 261 | 1,288 | +0 | -7 | -7 |
| 2024 Q1 | 267 | 1,289 | +0 | -3 | -3 |
| 2023 Q4 | 262 | 1,297 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinquecento | Petrol | 93 | 53% |
| Cinquecento Sporting | Petrol | 84 | 47% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 78.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1996 | 69.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1994 | 70.6% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cinquecentos tested had between 40,385 and 86,243 miles on the clock.
At 61,196 median miles, the Cinquecento has 0.046 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 Cinquecento MOT pass rate?
The Fiat Cinquecento has a 71.6% MOT pass rate based on 687 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Fiat Cinquecento?
The most common MOT failure on the Fiat Cinquecento is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 38 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Fiat Cinquecentos are on UK roads?
There are 220 Fiat Cinquecentos currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,224 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Fiat Cinquecento at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Fiat Cinquecento is 61,196 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 40,385 and 86,243 miles.
Buying a used Cinquecento?
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 71.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £172 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 41.3% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.