Used car guide

2021 Fiat 500E LA Prima: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Fiat 500E LA Primas, from 1,362 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,362MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
4,300typical miles a year
12.2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Fiat 500E LA Primas than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints12.2× usual
    Fiat 500E LA Prima
    13.4% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

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

  • Wipers2.2× usual
    Fiat 500E LA Prima
    8.4% All 2021 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

By area

The share of 2021 Fiat 500E LA Prima MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    3% 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
    2% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,619Tyres 22%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Fiat 500E LA Primas registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score