Fiat 500 vs Fiat 500 s: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Fiat 500
77%
MOT pass rate · 333,596 vehicles
Fiat 500 s
85%
MOT pass rate · 936 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Fiat 500 s is the more reliable of the two — 85% pass first time versus 77%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Fiat 500 | Fiat 500 s |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 77% | 85% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 23% | 15% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 0.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 3% |
| Average mileage | 62,906 mi | 63,418 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 333,596 | 936 |
Most common faults
Fiat 500
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Fiat 500 s
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
- Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Fiat 500 s is the more reliable of the two — 85% pass first time versus 77%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Fiat 500 report Full Fiat 500 s report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.