2008 Fiat 500 MOT pass rate: 61.4% (32,071 tests)
Is the 2008 500 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 61.8% -3.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 60.8% -4.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 61.6% -3.5 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 2008 500
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10,513 | 27.0% |
| 2 | Brakes | 9,038 | 23.2% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7,517 | 19.3% |
| 4 | Tyres | 3,141 | 8.1% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 3,108 | 8.0% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2,564 | 6.6% |
All 500 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 (this page) | 32,071 | 61.4% | -3.7 pts | 84,753 |
| 2009 | 56,145 | 61.3% | -5.1 pts | 80,031 |
| 2010 | 58,601 | 63.5% | -3.8 pts | 74,738 |
| 2011 | 55,222 | 66.0% | -3.1 pts | 70,042 |
| 2012 | 78,775 | 67.7% | -3.5 pts | 65,504 |
| 2013 | 96,009 | 70.6% | -2.7 pts | 60,177 |
| 2014 | 113,839 | 71.0% | -4.8 pts | 54,928 |
| 2015 | 108,938 | 71.0% | -7.7 pts | 48,192 |
| 2016 | 92,355 | 74.9% | -6.4 pts | 41,797 |
| 2017 | 66,835 | 80.1% | -3.9 pts | 36,866 |
| 2018 | 69,481 | 83.8% | -2.6 pts | 30,224 |
| 2019 | 56,013 | 87.8% | -0.6 pts | 24,232 |
| 2020 | 12,530 | 91.2% | +1.2 pts | 19,693 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Fiat 500 years to avoid.
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- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2008 Fiat 500 reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 61.4% of their MOT tests (32,071 tests, 2023–2025), -3.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 84,753 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 500?
The median tested example shows 84,753 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.