Used car guide

2012 Fiat 500C: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Fiat 500Cs, from 2,168 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,168MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
4,900typical miles a year
3.8×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Fiat 500Cs than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Shock absorbers3.8× usual
    Fiat 500C
    25% All 2012 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11%, against 1.7% of all 2012 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 system2.5× usual
    Fiat 500C
    13.5% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.5% of all 2012 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× usual
    Fiat 500C
    7.6% All 2012 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 3% of all 2012 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 bushes6.5× usual
    Fiat 500C
    3.9% All 2012 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.1% of all 2012 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.

  • Front struts4.4× usual
    Fiat 500C
    3.1% All 2012 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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.

Better than most

Brake pads: 4.5% here, against 9.6% of all 2012 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1.5% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Fiat 500C MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% 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
    23% 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
    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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% 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
    9% 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%
20111,311Suspension 53%
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 2012 Fiat 500Cs registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score