Does the Fiat 500 fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Fiat 500 records 2.50 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.53 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.03, 95% interval −0.05 to −0.01). It ranks 272 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Fiat 500 by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Fiat 500 is “Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer”, recorded 16,010 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 16,010 | 0.88 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 7,601 | 0.42 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 6,882 | 0.38 |
| An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels | 4,781 | 0.26 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 3,751 | 0.21 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,820,554 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Fiat 500 gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.9% of Fiat 500 MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,789 miles later (52,047 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 52,047 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Fiat 500 2007 · Fiat 500 2008 · Fiat 500 2009 · Fiat 500 2010 · Fiat 500 2011 · Fiat 500 2012 · Fiat 500 2013 · Fiat 500 2014 · Fiat 500 2015 · Fiat 500 2016 · Fiat 500 2017 · Fiat 500 2018 · Fiat 500 2019 · Fiat 500 2020 · Fiat 500 in Finland · Fiat 500 in the Netherlands · Fiat 500 in Norway · Fiat 500 by postcode area · Fiat 500 body, chassis and structure failures · Fiat 500 brakes failures · Fiat 500 vehicle identification failures · Fiat 500 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Fiat 500 road wheels failures · Fiat 500 seat belts and airbags failures · Fiat 500 steering failures · Fiat 500 suspension failures · Fiat 500 tyres failures · Fiat 500 visibility failures