2012 Fiat 500 MOT pass rate: 67.7% (78,775 tests)
Is the 2012 500 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68.9% -3.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 66.9% -4.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 67.2% -3.0 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 | 22,907 | 36.3% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10,569 | 16.7% |
| 3 | Brakes | 8,930 | 14.1% |
| 4 | Tyres | 7,334 | 11.6% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 4,292 | 6.8% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 3,699 | 5.9% |
All 500 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 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 (this page) | 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.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Fiat 500 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 67.7% of their MOT tests (78,775 tests, 2023–2025), -3.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 65,504 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 65,504 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.