Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Abarth 500?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2009 Abarth 500?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2009 Abarth 500?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2009 Abarth 500 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

42% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2009 Abarth 500 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,050 vehicles, the 2009 Abarth 500 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 Abarth 500?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Abarth 500 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (38.2% of vehicles), Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (37.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2009 Abarth 500?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Abarth 500 (2009)

1,050 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.1% first-time pass rate

2009 Abarth 500

CarHunch analysed 1,050 real MOT records for the 2009 Abarth 500. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2009 Abarth 500 is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.8% against the national benchmark of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests you should expect more frequent repairs. More concerning still, 42.3% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects, which is substantially higher than typical and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.

At a median mileage of 54,939 miles for a 15-year-old car, these vehicles are running fairly light, yet they're still averaging 3.56 failures and 23.7 advisories per test cycle, indicating systemic wear rather than just high-mileage deterioration. If you're considering one, budget for regular maintenance and get a full history check—focus especially on the braking system, suspension, and steering components where dangerous defects are most likely to hide.

The 2009 Abarth 500 has a decent first-time pass rate (77.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

77.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

42.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.56

Over 14.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 40k–68k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 23.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,050 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,050 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 39.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 38.2%

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 37.3%

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 33.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Lighting 30.5%

Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,050 Abarth 500 cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Abarth 500

Based on MOT data from 1,050 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	1,040	77.1%	3.58

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,597 Abarth 500 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 38.4%

2,533

Grey 23.5%

1,553

Red 17.4%

1,150

Black 16.2%

1,069

Blue 3.9%

254

Beige 0.3%

Yellow 0.2%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Abarth 500 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

54,939

typical

40,395

low mileage

68,455

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Abarth 500 vehicles fall between 40,395 and 68,455 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,395 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 40,395–68,455 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Abarth 500s sit.

⚠ Over 92,414 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Abarth 500 — Still on the Road

Most 2009 Abarth 500s are still being driven.

680 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.56

Avg failures per vehicle

23.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Abarth 500: All 500 years → Which year to buy? →

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Or browse all models: Abarth →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Abarth 500 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing