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What to check: Fiat 500

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Ranked across all years of the Fiat 500, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 12.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

DampersRuns high on this modelLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 9.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 5.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 4.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 3.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Underneath, with a torchRuns high on this modelGet down and look at the sills, the subframes and the rear suspension mounting points. Flaking scale and bubbling matter; light surface rust does not. On older cars this is the one check that finds the fault that scraps them.Recorded on 2.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Handbrake holdRuns high on this modelStop on a hill and put the handbrake on. It should hold the car firmly within a few clicks, or straight away on the button if it is electronic. Roll-back means adjustment at best, new cables or a caliper motor at worst.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 25.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 16.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Listen for knocks from the front end over speed bumps or potholes on the test drive.Clonking points to worn lower arm bushes or tired strut top mounts, the car's most common suspension complaint.

On a TwinAir, check the service history for oil brand and interval, not just stamps.Wrong-spec or skipped oil changes are the main cause of MultiAir actuator failure, a four-figure repair.

On a Dualogic car, pull away from a dead stop several times and change gear at low speed.Hesitation, jerkiness or a harsh clutch bite means the actuator or clutch is on its way out.

Push the clutch pedal on a manual and feel for the bite point.A high, vague, or slipping bite point is the clutch or pressure plate wearing, an MOT-invisible fault.

On a diesel, check the dash for a DPF warning light and ask about the car's typical journey type.A car that has only ever done short trips is more likely to have a clogging or already-clogged filter.

On a 500e, leave the car locked for 30 minutes then try a cold start and check the touchscreen boots cleanly.A slow or failed start suggests a weak 12V battery; a frozen or blank screen is the known infotainment glitch.

Check the MOT history and any service book for outstanding recall work.Manual clutch pressure plate and 500e half-shaft/battery-terminal recalls should show as completed, not pending.

Full Fiat 500 reliability report