2012 Fiat 500C MOT pass rate: 67.8% (6,444 tests)
Is the 2012 500C getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69.1% -3.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 67.0% -4.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 67.2% -3.1 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 500C
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 1,997 | 40.0% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 814 | 16.3% |
| 3 | Tyres | 639 | 12.8% |
| 4 | Brakes | 600 | 12.0% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 340 | 6.8% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 243 | 4.9% |
All 500C years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2,390 | 61.1% | -5.3 pts | 75,796 |
| 2010 | 4,397 | 62.3% | -5.1 pts | 72,564 |
| 2011 | 3,946 | 65.3% | -3.9 pts | 67,136 |
| 2012 (this page) | 6,444 | 67.8% | -3.4 pts | 60,631 |
| 2013 | 5,935 | 71.9% | -1.4 pts | 56,010 |
| 2014 | 6,878 | 71.8% | -4.1 pts | 50,498 |
| 2015 | 7,581 | 71.2% | -7.5 pts | 45,518 |
| 2016 | 6,538 | 76.9% | -4.5 pts | 39,464 |
| 2017 | 4,656 | 81.9% | -2.1 pts | 33,371 |
| 2018 | 1,685 | 85.4% | -0.9 pts | 29,224 |
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Fiat 500C reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 67.8% of their MOT tests (6,444 tests, 2023–2025), -3.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 60,631 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 500C?
The median tested example shows 60,631 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.