Car statistics by year
2012 Fiat 500
Fiat 500 cars first registered in 2012: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2012, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 61.0% All 2012 cars 63.6%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 69,200 miles; all 2012 cars 90,800
- Left at the end of 2025 28,732 91.4% of the 31,451 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 9.3% All 2012 cars 9.2%
- Tests with an advisory 68.2% All 2012 cars 62.0%
- MOT tests in 2025 29,185 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2012 Fiat 500s do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 13 years old, 61.0% of 2012 Fiat 500 MOT tests were passed first time, against 63.6% for all cars first registered in 2012. 2012 Fiat 500s did worse than average for their age, by 2.6 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 61.1% of the time (all 2012 cars 64.5%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Fiat 500 vs all cars
Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Fiat 500 bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Fiat 500 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’08 | 54.8% | 57.0% |
| ’09 | 54.8% | 58.2% |
| ’10 | 56.5% | 59.3% |
| ’11 | 58.3% | 61.5% |
| ’12 | 61.0% | 63.6% |
| ’13 | 62.9% | 66.0% |
| ’14 | 63.1% | 69.1% |
| ’15 | 64.3% | 72.6% |
| ’16 | 68.1% | 75.6% |
| ’17 | 73.1% | 79.1% |
| ’18 | 77.1% | 81.8% |
| ’19 | 80.8% | 84.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2012 Fiat 500
Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn was the most common single reason a 2012 Fiat 500 failed, on 12.8% of about 11,400 failed tests. By area of the car, suspension failed most often (47.9% of failed tests; all 2012 cars 39.1%). 9.3% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.2% for all cars first registered in 2012. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 12.8% |
| Shock absorbers: excessively worn bush Suspension | 11.1% |
| Shock absorbers: serious fluid leak Suspension | 9.5% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 8.3% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.9% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.4% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 6.2% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 5.9% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 5.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Fiat 500 vs all 2012 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 47.9% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 37.5% |
| Brakes | 20.3% |
| Tyres | 18.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 13.8% |
| Visibility | 12.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 11.8% |
| Steering | 3.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2012 Fiat 500
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 68.2% of 2012 Fiat 500 tests had at least one (all 2012 cars 62.0%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 21.0% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 14.9% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 12.4% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 11.1% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 9.6% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.5% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.0% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 7.7% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 7.5% |
| Shock absorbers: slightly worn bush Suspension | 6.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2012 Fiat 500?
Half of the 2012 Fiat 500s tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 69,200 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 53,500 and a quarter more than 85,300. For all cars first registered in 2012, the middle figure was 90,800 miles, so 2012 Fiat 500s have been driven 23.8% less far than average.
Mileage at the 2025 MOT
Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Fiat 500 | 39,400 | 53,500 | 69,200 | 85,300 | 101,200 | 27,784 |
| All 2012 cars | 47,100 | 66,700 | 90,800 | 117,400 | 145,000 | 1,483,042 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2012 Fiat 500s are left?
At the end of 2014, 31,451 2012 Fiat 500s were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 28,732 were: 27,601 licensed and 1,131 declared off the road (SORN). That is 91.4% still on the record, against 83.1% for all cars first registered in 2012.
Share still on the record since 2014
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2012 Fiat 500 | All 2012 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 98.8% | 97.0% |
| 2016 | 99.3% | 98.2% |
| 2017 | 99.0% | 97.4% |
| 2018 | 97.8% | 96.3% |
| 2019 | 97.4% | 95.2% |
| 2020 | 95.9% | 93.9% |
| 2021 | 95.7% | 93.0% |
| 2022 | 95.0% | 91.4% |
| 2023 | 94.0% | 89.2% |
| 2024 | 92.6% | 86.5% |
| 2025 | 91.4% | 83.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2012
4 of the Fiat 500’s 35 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2012. 1 has no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2012 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2012 may have been built in 2011, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec 2017 | Supplementary heater wiring may become damaged and cause an electrical short-circuit | 24 Aug 2012 to 14 Sept 2017 | 17,329 |
| 22 Sept 2014 | Interior and exterior vehicle lighting may fail | 12 Sept 2011 to 9 May 2014 | 3,318 |
| 22 Sept 2014 | Interior and exterior vehicle lighting may fail | 12 Sept 2011 to 8 Jul 2014 | 91,448 |
| 7 Dec 2012 | Braking efficiency may be reduced | 1 Jun 2012 to 30 Sept 2012 | 3,095 (all models) |
Every Fiat 500 recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls
Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
Other years of the Fiat 500
15 years of the Fiat 500, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2022 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (90.3% passed first time) and the 2015 cars worst (64.3%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | – | 10,297 | 54.8% |
| 2009 | – | 19,089 | 54.8% |
| 2010 | – | 21,002 | 56.5% |
| 2011 | – | 20,717 | 58.3% |
| 2012 | – | 28,732 | 61.0% |
| 2013 | – | 33,773 | 62.9% |
| 2014 | 42,489 | 39,882 | 63.1% |
| 2015 | 48,432 | 46,829 | 64.3% |
| 2016 | 47,336 | 47,411 | 68.1% |
| 2017 | 28,831 | 28,444 | 73.1% |
| 2018 | 24,812 | 24,141 | 77.1% |
| 2019 | 20,537 | 20,161 | 80.8% |
| 2020 | 13,469 | 13,207 | 85.0% |
| 2021 | 15,521 | 14,913 | 87.6% |
| 2022 | 16,727 | 16,508 | 90.3% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 29,185 MOT tests of 2012 Fiat 500 cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 28,732 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Fiat 500 cars first registered in 2012; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2012.
- Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
- Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
- Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
- Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.