MOT performance
Fiat 500 vs Ford Ka: MOT pass rates compared
In 2023–2024, 68.7% of 702,906 Fiat 500 MOT tests and 67.5% of 370,138 Ford Ka tests passed first time — 1.1 points in favour of the Fiat 500. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Ford Ka fails less often than the Fiat 500: 1.15× against 1.22× the national rate for comparable cars.
702,906 Fiat 500 and 370,138 Ford Ka MOT tests, 2023–2024
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500: first-time pass rate | 68.7% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 702,906 |
| Ford Ka: first-time pass rate | 67.5% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 370,138 |
| Fiat 500: failures vs similar cars | +22% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Ford Ka: failures vs similar cars | +15% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Fiat 500: dangerous defect | 8.2% | n = 702,906 |
| Ford Ka: dangerous defect | 8.2% | n = 370,138 |
| Average age at test | 8.7 vs 10.5 years | Fiat 500 vs Ford Ka |
Why the raw pass rates can mislead
The Ford Ka was tested at an older average age (10.5 years against 8.7), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets. Here the adjustment reverses the raw result: the Ford Ka has the lower pass rate but fails less often than comparable cars.
Failure areas side by side
Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is road wheels, where the Ford Ka fails 3.1 times as often on an adjusted basis.
| Area | Fiat 500 | Ford Ka |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.8% (+28%) | 7.6% (+25%) |
| Steering | 0.6% (-61%) | 1.3% (-22%) |
| Suspension | 13.9% (+84%) | 14.4% (+64%) |
| Tyres | 6.6% (+16%) | 6.0% (+6%) |
| Road wheels | 0.1% (-64%) | 0.3% (+11%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 10.1% (+7%) | 11.4% (+5%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.3% (+39%) | 4.3% (+45%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.9% (+11%) | 5.4% (+11%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.8% (+14%) | 3.1% (+10%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.5% (-17%) | 1.3% (+81%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% (+45%) | 0.3% (-7%) |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% (+146%) | 0.0% (+280%) |
Pass rate at the same age
Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.
| Age at test | Fiat 500 | Ford Ka |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 86.4% (n = 71,617) | 89.1% (n = 25,560) |
| 5-6 years | 78.6% (n = 97,428) | 83.9% (n = 43,516) |
| 7-8 years | 69.5% (n = 144,331) | 74.4% (n = 47,245) |
| 9-10 years | 64.9% (n = 154,339) | 70.0% (n = 70,445) |
| 11-12 years | 60.8% (n = 105,265) | 64.0% (n = 68,007) |
| 13-15 years | 55.8% (n = 102,336) | 56.1% (n = 82,377) |
| 16+ years | 54.0% (n = 5,176) | 50.0% (n = 32,983) |
Most common failure item
- Fiat 500 · pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn (4.93% of tests)
- Ford Ka · stop lamp: not working (3.15% of tests)
MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.
Check a specific car
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.