MOT performance
Fiat 500L petrol: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 11,062 MOT tests on petrol Fiat 500Ls in 2023–2024 (on average 7.9 years old at test, median 50,896 miles), 68.6% passed first time, against 64.1% of 24,084 diesel Fiat 500L tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, petrol Fiat 500Ls failed 25% more often than comparable cars — 1.25× against 1.30× for the Fiat 500L as a whole.
11,062 MOT tests on 5,579 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 68.6% | ±0.9 pts (95%), n = 11,062 |
| All Fiat 500Ls | 65.6% | n = 35,150 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.25× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Fiat 500L overall 1.30× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 6.4% | n = 11,062 |
| Average age at test | 7.9 years | n = 11,062 |
| Registration years covered | 1972–2021 | DVSA first-use date |
Petrol against the other Fiat 500L fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,084 | 8.7 yrs | 64.1% | +32% | 10.0% |
| Petrol | 11,062 | 7.9 yrs | 68.6% | +25% | 6.4% |
Where petrol Fiat 500Ls differ
- Body, chassis and structure: petrol Fiat 500Ls failed 54% more often than the Fiat 500L overall, relative to comparable cars (1.55× vs 1.01×).
- Brakes: petrol Fiat 500Ls failed 32% less often than the Fiat 500L overall, relative to comparable cars (0.94× vs 1.39×).
| Area | Petrol (vs similar) | All Fiat 500Ls (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 11.1% (+63%) | 12.5% (+64%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 10.6% (+25%) | 11.1% (+26%) |
| Tyres | 5.5% (-9%) | 6.8% (+4%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.9% (+15%) | 4.5% (+16%) |
| Brakes | 4.7% (-6%) | 7.9% (+39%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.7% (+62%) | 3.4% (+54%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.0% (+55%) | 2.4% (+1%) |
| Steering | 2.6% (+74%) | 3.3% (+98%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% (+105%) | 1.3% (+103%) |
Most common petrol Fiat 500L failure items
1 of these 5 items is not among the Fiat 500L's ten most common failures overall.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 6.09% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.91% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 3.62% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.85% |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | Body, chassis and structure | 2.23% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | petrol pass rate (tests) | diesel pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 79.3% (648) | — |
| 5-6 | 72.3% (1,871) | 73.5% (1,337) |
| 7-8 | 70.4% (3,154) | 67.1% (7,533) |
| 9-10 | 64.7% (4,551) | 61.8% (14,056) |
| 11-12 | 64.1% (593) | 61.0% (1,042) |
Fiat 500L by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2013 Fiat 500L · 62.6%
- 2014 Fiat 500L · 63.9%
- 2015 Fiat 500L · 66.7%
- 2016 Fiat 500L · 70.4%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific petrol Fiat 500L
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.