Used car guide

2010 Fiat 500: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Fiat 500s, from 19,144 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

19,144MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
5,200typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Fiat 500s than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Shock absorbers2.6× usual
    Fiat 500
    20% All 2010 cars
    7.8%
    Rough price £150–£400

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

  • Exhaust system2.5× usual
    Fiat 500
    19.1% All 2010 cars
    7.6%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Fiat 500
    18.9% All 2010 cars
    11.4%
    Rough price £120–£300

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Headlamp1.5× usual
    Fiat 500
    10.5% All 2010 cars
    6.8%
    Rough price £40–£400

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.4% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars. Track rod end: 1.6% here, against 5.5% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Fiat 500 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    53% 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.

  • Tyres
    35% 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
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Fiat 500?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201918,955Tyres 33%
201823,575Tyres 33%
201722,604Tyres 33%
201631,256Suspension 42%
201536,718Suspension 46%
201438,226Suspension 47%
201332,038Suspension 48%
201226,118Suspension 52%
201118,144Suspension 52%
200918,024Suspension 57%
20089,991Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Fiat 500s registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score