Used car guide

2018 Fiat 500: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Fiat 500s, from 23,575 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

23,575MOT tests in 2025
77%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
5,100typical miles a year
3.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Fiat 500s than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.7× usual
    Fiat 500
    11.7% All 2018 cars
    3.2%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Shock absorbers2.7× usual
    Fiat 500
    7.8% All 2018 cars
    2.9%
    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 system4.6× usual
    Fiat 500
    5.1% All 2018 cars
    1.1%
    Rough price £100–£500

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

  • Front strut mounts and bushes11× usual
    Fiat 500
    2.2% All 2018 cars
    0.2%
    Rough price £120–£400

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

  • Engine oil leaks2.3× usual
    Fiat 500
    3.2% All 2018 cars
    1.4%
    Rough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

By area

The share of 2018 Fiat 500 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Suspension
    24% 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
    21% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% 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
    6% 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
    5% 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
201918,955Tyres 33%
201722,604Tyres 33%
201631,256Suspension 42%
201536,718Suspension 46%
201438,226Suspension 47%
201332,038Suspension 48%
201226,118Suspension 52%
201118,144Suspension 52%
201019,144Suspension 53%
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 2018 Fiat 500s registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score