2016 Fiat 500L (first used 2016) MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 66.1% of Fiat 500Ls first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 4,885 500L first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and tyres.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Fiat 500Ls first used in 2016 (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 2016 Fiat 500L MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, 500Ls first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the 500L figure was 8.8 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2016 500L | All cars first used 2016 | 500L first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78.6% | 82.7% | 1,647 |
| 2022 | 77.0% | 80.9% | 1,671 |
| 2023 | 73.6% | 78.6% | 1,640 |
| 2024 | 67.1% | 76.7% | 1,633 |
| 2025 | 66.1% | 74.9% | 1,612 |
Common 2016 Fiat 500L MOT failures
Share of the 1,518 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 11.7% | 178 |
| Stop lamp: not working | 11.7% | 177 |
| Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 11.1% | 168 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | 10.7% | 162 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 7.2% | 110 |
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 500L in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Coil spring replacement | £248 | £175–£400 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2016 Fiat 500L before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2016 Fiat 500L MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 500Ls, as a share of all 4,885 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 14.9% | 730 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 12.1% | 592 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 10.6% | 520 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 7.9% | 386 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 5.4% | 262 |
Questions about the 2016 Fiat 500L MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Fiat 500L?
In 2025, 66.1% of 500Ls first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2016 500L most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 33.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (27.1%) and tyres (22.7%). The single most common item was “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn” (11.7%).
How often does a 2016 Fiat 500L fail its MOT?
In 2025, 33.9% of first tests on 500Ls first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 27.6% failed, and a further 6.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,518 of 4,885 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2016 Fiat 500L MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 14.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.6%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.9%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (5.4%).
Is a 2016 Fiat 500L 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 78.6% in 2021 to 66.1% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2016
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2016 500L?
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