Does the Fiat 500L fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Fiat 500L records 12.08 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 8.94 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+3.14, 95% interval +2.95 to +3.33). It ranks 160 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Fiat 500L by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Fiat 500L is “A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened”, recorded 6,814 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 6,814 | 5.24 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 5,662 | 4.36 |
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 805 | 0.62 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint likely to become detached | 581 | 0.45 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 365 | 0.28 |
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 suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
20.2% of Fiat 500L MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,757 miles later (7,169 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,169 (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 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Fiat 500L road wheels failures · Fiat 500L seat belts and airbags failures · Fiat 500L steering failures · Fiat 500L tyres failures · Fiat 500L visibility failures