Does the Fiat 500L fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Fiat 500L records 2.24 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.93 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) (+0.31, 95% interval +0.23 to +0.39). It ranks 208 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 500L by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Fiat 500L is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 1,416 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 1,416 | 1.09 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 459 | 0.35 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 415 | 0.32 |
| An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels | 169 | 0.13 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 124 | 0.10 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 129,994 (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 500L gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.1% of Fiat 500L MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 6,126 miles later (3,075 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,075 (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 500L 2011 · Fiat 500L 2012 · Fiat 500L 2013 · Fiat 500L 2014 · Fiat 500L 2015 · Fiat 500L 2016 · Fiat 500L 2017 · Fiat 500L 2018 · Fiat 500L 2019 · Fiat 500L in the Netherlands · Fiat 500L by postcode area · Fiat 500L body, chassis and structure failures · Fiat 500L brakes failures · Fiat 500L vehicle identification failures · Fiat 500L lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Fiat 500L road wheels failures · Fiat 500L seat belts and airbags failures · Fiat 500L steering failures · Fiat 500L suspension failures · Fiat 500L tyres failures · Fiat 500L visibility failures