2012 Abarth 500 MOT pass rate: 72.0% (2,205 tests)
Is the 2012 500 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.0% +0.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 71.4% +0.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 71.6% +1.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 500
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 494 | 28.4% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 375 | 21.6% |
| 3 | Tyres | 208 | 12.0% |
| 4 | Brakes | 198 | 11.4% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 174 | 10.0% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 143 | 8.2% |
All 500 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2,204 | 71.1% | +4.7 pts | 83,322 |
| 2010 | 2,772 | 71.2% | +3.8 pts | 77,487 |
| 2011 | 2,583 | 71.2% | +2.0 pts | 72,388 |
| 2012 (this page) | 2,205 | 72.0% | +0.8 pts | 68,442 |
| 2013 | 1,579 | 72.6% | -0.8 pts | 64,664 |
| 2014 | 2,278 | 74.6% | -1.3 pts | 56,877 |
| 2015 | 2,140 | 76.2% | -2.6 pts | 51,750 |
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Abarth 500 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 72.0% of their MOT tests (2,205 tests, 2023–2025), +0.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 68,442 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 500?
The median tested example shows 68,442 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.