Used car guide

2011 Fiat 500C: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Fiat 500Cs, from 1,311 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,311MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Fiat 500Cs than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Shock absorbers3.4× usual
    Fiat 500C
    25.7% All 2011 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.2%, against 1.9% of all 2011 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.

  • Exhaust system2.6× usual
    Fiat 500C
    16.7% All 2011 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.7% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

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

  • Brake lights2.4× usual
    Fiat 500C
    10.4% All 2011 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 3.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes7.9× usual
    Fiat 500C
    5.5% All 2011 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.1% of all 2011 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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)3.9× usual
    Fiat 500C
    4.3% All 2011 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Sidelights: 2.9% here, against 5.8% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Fiat 500C 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
    34% 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
    32% 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
    25% 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
    18% 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 500C?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2018577Tyres 30%
20171,589Tyres 32%
20162,206Suspension 43%
20152,580Suspension 47%
20142,295Suspension 48%
20132,002Suspension 50%
20122,168Suspension 52%
20101,463Suspension 54%
2009781Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Fiat 500Cs registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score