2015 Abarth 500 (first used 2015) MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 67.6% of Abarth 500s first used in 2015 passed their MOT first time, against 71.9% for all cars first used in 2015. Across 2,172 500 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, lamps and electrical equipment and tyres.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Abarth 500s first used in 2015 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2015 Abarth 500 MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, 500s first used in 2015 against all cars first used in 2015 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the 500 figure was 4.3 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2015 500 | All cars first used 2015 | 500 first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73.4% | 79.7% | 759 |
| 2022 | 75.4% | 77.8% | 736 |
| 2023 | 71.0% | 75.5% | 739 |
| 2024 | 74.1% | 73.5% | 718 |
| 2025 | 67.6% | 71.9% | 715 |
Common 2015 Abarth 500 MOT failures
Share of the 632 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | 17.1% | 108 |
| Ball joint: excessively worn | 11.7% | 74 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 8.2% | 52 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a 500 in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | Shock absorber replacement | £300 | £200–£500 |
| Ball joint: excessively worn | Ball joint replacement | £90 | £60–£150 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2015 Abarth 500 before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2015 Abarth 500 MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2015 500s, as a share of all 2,172 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 17.6% | 383 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 16.1% | 349 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | 8.7% | 190 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 7.8% | 170 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 7.4% | 160 |
Questions about the 2015 Abarth 500 MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2015 Abarth 500?
In 2025, 67.6% of 500s first used in 2015 passed their MOT first time, against 71.9% for all cars first used in 2015. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2015 500 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension (in 47.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (31.5%) and tyres (25.9%). The single most common item was “Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush” (17.1%).
How often does a 2015 Abarth 500 fail its MOT?
In 2025, 32.4% of first tests on 500s first used in 2015 did not pass first time: 26.0% failed, and a further 6.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 632 of 2,172 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2015 Abarth 500 MOT advisories?
“Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (on 17.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (16.1%), “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (8.7%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (7.8%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.4%).
Is a 2015 Abarth 500 reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 73.4% in 2021 to 67.6% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2015
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2015 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2015 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2015 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2015 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2015 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2015 500?
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