Used car guide

2020 Fiat 500X: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Fiat 500Xs, from 2,112 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,112MOT tests in 2025
87%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
6,600typical miles a year
25×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Fiat 500Xs than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)25× usual
    Fiat 500X
    2.5% All 2020 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.1% of all 2020 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.

By area

The share of 2020 Fiat 500X MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    14% 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.

  • Suspension
    5% 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
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022869Tyres 34%
20211,629Tyres 27%
20193,390Tyres 34%
20182,864Tyres 34%
20174,680Tyres 35%
201613,699Tyres 34%
20157,094Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Fiat 500Xs registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score