Fiat 500 Star: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Fiat 500 Star passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 10.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,210 individual Fiat 500 Star tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+10.3 points
Tests analysed2,210
Average mileage at test29,527 miles
Average year of manufacture2020
Reliability rank1,096 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87% first-time pass rate means roughly 13 in every 100 Fiat 500 Stars presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Fiat 500 Star tested had covered 29,527 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Fiat 500 Star sits 10.3 points above the national average, ranked 1,096 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Fiat 500 Star rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Fiat 500 Stars at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Fiat 500 Star

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.8% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.1% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.6% of tests
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.5% of tests
  5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.4% of tests
  6. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.1% of tests
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 0.9% of tests
  8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 0.7% of tests
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.5% of tests

From 2,212 DVSA-tracked Fiat 500 Star tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.98% of these flagged Fiat 500 Star defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Fiat 500 Star

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Fiat 500 Star before it actually fails on it.

  1. Cable damaged or knotted, 1% of tests (11.85x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 2.4% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 0.8% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.5% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 20.8% of tests, also fails
  6. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.3% of tests, also fails
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.9% of tests, also fails
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.2% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.3% of tests, also fails
  10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.3% of tests, also fails

From 2,212 DVSA-tracked Fiat 500 Star tests, 2024.

Fiat 500 Star pass rate by model year

From its 2019 to its 2020 model year, the Fiat 500 Star's first-time pass rate has risen 1.1 points, from 86.7% to 87.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Fiat 500 Star year:

Other Fiat models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Fiat 500 Star MOT pass rate badge: 87%

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/fiat-500-star"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/fiat-500-star.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Fiat 500 Star MOT Pass Rate: 87% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

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Fiat 500 Star most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (1.8% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/fiat-500-star"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/fiat-500-star.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Fiat 500 Star most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (1.8% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate