Used car guide · 2009–2026

Abarth 500 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Abarth 500, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 16,072 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2023 Abarth 500

Cars registered in 2023 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Abarth 500 as a whole.

152on the UK register at the end of 2025
2026first MOT due
Petrolmost common fuel (also electric)
What to check on a 2023 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320162015201420132012201120102009

What usually goes wrong with an Abarth 500?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Abarth 500 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Abarth 500 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes

    up to 13× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 4.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014 and 2015.

    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.

Abarth 500 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Abarth 500 did best (66% passed first time, 7 points above all 2009 cars) and the 2015 did worst (71%, 3 points below all 2015 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201672%77% -5182 (small sample)
201571%74% -32,156
201469%70% -12,291
201366%67% -11,589
201267%64% +32,228
201165%62% +32,594
201065%60% +52,795
200966%59% +72,237

Questions to ask the seller before buying an Abarth 500

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the front strut mounts and bushes? (Flagged at MOT 13× as often on the Abarth 500 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the Abarth 500 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the Abarth 500 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Abarth 500?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score