Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Fiat 500 2012: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Fiat 500 include Shock absorbers (front) (~5.8× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (9,784 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

9,784 failed first-attempt tests · 24,878 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Shock absorbers (front) — about 5.8× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Shock absorbers (front): about 5.8× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 9,784 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Shock absorbers (front)

This failure pattern appears about 5.8× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 865 failed first-attempt tests; 8.8% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 865 failures · ×5.8 vs similar cars · 8.8% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Front 865 ×5.8 8.8% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Rear 1,112 ×4.3 11.4% Likely common fault pattern
3 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 318 ×4.1 3.3% Likely common fault pattern
4 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
 Front 1,315 ×3.1 13.4% Likely common fault pattern
5 Catalyst emissions
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Catalyst emissions
 Any 679 ×2.2 6.9% Possible elevated fault
6 Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Emissions not tested
 Any 228 ×2.1 2.3% Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Cable
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages > Cable
 Any 37 ×9.7 0.4% Possible elevated fault
2 Coil springs — Mounting (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Mounting
 Rear 95 ×8.3 1.0% Likely common fault pattern
3 Attachment bracket and mounting (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Attachment bracket and mounting
 Front 87 ×7.8 0.9% Likely common fault pattern
4 Cable (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages > Cable
 Rear 69 ×7.4 0.7% Likely common fault pattern
5 Spring mounting prescribed areas (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Spring mounting prescribed areas
 Rear 72 ×6.1 0.7% Likely common fault pattern
6 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 716 ×5.1 7.3% Likely common fault pattern
7 Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Front 1,292 ×5.1 13.2% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Pins and bushes
 Front 321 ×4.9 3.3% Likely common fault pattern

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2012 Fiat 500 on this page. Among 9,784 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Shock absorbers (front) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 5.8× more often than peers; 865 observed failures; 8.8% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Shock absorbers (front) (about 5.8× more often than peers; 865 observed failures; 8.8% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Shock absorbers (front) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 5.8× more often than peers; 865 observed failures; 8.8% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2012 Fiat 500 include Shock absorbers (front). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Fiat 500 (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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