Fiat 500E years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

7,295 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2021–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 2 Fiat 500E years have MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use year2021–2022
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

83.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 82.9% to 84.6%.

Fiat 500E, all years83.8%
Same-age average, all vehicles88.1%

In 2025, 83.8% of the 7,295 initial MOT tests on Fiat 500E cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 88.1%. That is 4.3 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific 500E

Its own MOT history, free.

Fiat 500E MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3		4,80414,500	86.3%±1.1	−2.2 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4		2,49117,300	79.0%±1.7	−8.2 ptsall: 87.2%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common 500E problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,183 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Suspension37.0%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors30.3%
Tyres26.8%
Lights and electrics18.1%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

Most common MOT failures on the Fiat 500E

The defects recorded most often at the 1,183 failed initial tests on Fiat 500E cars, all years together, in the DVSA's own words. Each share is of failed tests, and a failed test can have more than one defect.

Defect	Share of failed tests	All vehicles, same age
Suspension arm pin or bush excessively wornSuspension	30.3%359 tests	0.9%
Wiper does not clear the windscreen effectivelyWindscreen, wipers, mirrors	19.7%233 tests	16.1%
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cordsTyres	10.7%127 tests	16.5%
Headlamp aim too highLights and electrics	10.5%124 tests	6.7%
Washer provides insufficient washer liquidWindscreen, wipers, mirrors	7.6%90 tests	4.9%
Suspension arm pin or bush likely to become detachedSuspension	5.2%61 tests	0.1%
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mmTyres	4.4%52 tests	10.2%

These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the 500E's failed tests in each year. How we count

What to check when viewing a 500E

Based on the areas where Fiat 500E MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 37.0% of failed 500E tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 30.3% of failed 500E tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.
Tyres
In 26.8% of failed 500E tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Lights and electrics
In 18.1% of failed 500E tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a 500E's MOT history

Fiat 500E questions

Which Fiat 500E years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2021–2022. None is clearly above average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Fiat 500E reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 83.8% of initial MOT tests on Fiat 500E cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 88.1%. That is 4.3 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Fiat 500E problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 37.0% of failed tests), windscreen, wipers, mirrors (in 30.3% of failed tests) and tyres (in 26.8% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old Fiat 500E?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Fiat 500E cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 14,500 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific 500E's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Fiat 500E

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Fiat models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 13 Fiat models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Fiat 500E cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count