Used car guide

2015 Abarth 500: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Abarth 500s, from 720 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

720MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
5,600typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Abarth 500s than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Shock absorbers4× usual
    Abarth 500
    20.8% All 2015 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 1.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes13.2× usual
    Abarth 500
    5.3% All 2015 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Ball joint2.2× usual
    Abarth 500
    7.8% All 2015 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.9% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2015 Abarth 500 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    30% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    6% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Abarth 500?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014748Suspension 46%
2013518Suspension 48%
2012733Suspension 43%
2011838Suspension 43%
2010910Suspension 45%
2009723Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Abarth 500s registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score