Abarth 595: what fails at MOT
39,000 MOT tests on the Abarth 595 in 2024, counted. 16.9% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
16.8% of Abarth 595 tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 17.2%, so the 595 is about average for its age.
It fails most often on suspension (3.2% of tests), tyres (2.9% of tests) and lights and electrics (2.4% of tests). It fails on suspension more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,254 | 10.4% | 10.9% | 16,300 10,600 to 22,100 |
| 2020 | 4,243 | 9.6% | 11.5% | 20,000 13,400 to 27,900 |
| 2019 | 5,128 | 12.9% | 13.4% | 26,000 18,700 to 35,500 |
| 2018 | 7,412 | 17.1% | 15.6% | 33,100 25,000 to 43,400 |
| 2017 | 6,452 | 17.6% | 18.2% | 40,800 30,200 to 53,100 |
| 2016 | 5,602 | 22.0% | 21.3% | 47,400 34,000 to 59,900 |
| 2015 | 3,174 | 23.9% | 24.4% | 49,400 36,100 to 64,500 |
| 2014 | 1,061 | 20.5% | 27.7% | 48,900 35,300 to 68,100 |
| 2013 | 945 | 31.7% | 30.6% | 59,100 41,800 to 71,800 |
| 2012 | 341 | 22.6% | 33.4% | 54,000 37,800 to 73,400 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Abarth 595 tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | 595 | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3.2% | 2.3% | More than most |
| Tyres | 2.9% | 3.6% | |
| Lights and electrics | 2.4% | 3.4% | Less than most |
| Brakes | 1.7% | 2.3% | |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 1.6% | 2.1% | |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.0% | 1.0% | |
| Body and structure | 0.5% | 0.7% |
The parts that fail most
- Tyre1.8%
- Tyre tread1.2%
- Shock absorbers1.1%
- Washers0.9%
- Headlamp aim0.9%
- Brake pads0.7%
- Wipers0.6%
- Brake discs0.6%
- Coil spring0.6%
- Wheel bearings0.5%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.2%
- Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush0.8%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.7%
- Tyre: has ply or cords exposed0.7%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.7%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively0.6%
- Coil spring: fractured or broken0.6%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn0.5%
- Engine warning light: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.5%
- Ball joint: excessively worn0.5%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.3%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.4%
- Brake pads: wearing thin3.3%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.3%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil2.1%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.9%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively1.3%
- Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush1.1%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “How much tread is left on each tyre, and how old are they?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
Check a Abarth 595's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.