Used car guide

2018 Abarth 595C: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Abarth 595Cs, from 441 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 441 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

441MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
4,800typical miles a year
3.8×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Abarth 595Cs than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Shock absorbers3.8× usual
    Abarth 595C
    10.9% All 2018 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.5% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 Abarth 595C MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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.

  • Brakes
    22% 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.

  • Suspension
    21% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% 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
    4% 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
    2% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022123Tyres 21%
2021293Tyres 29%
2020283Tyres 30%
2019411Tyres 26%
2017364Brakes 30%
2016275Suspension 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Abarth 595Cs registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score