Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 Abarth 595?

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 2017 Abarth 595?

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 2017 Abarth 595?

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 2017 Abarth 595 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2017 Abarth 595 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,281 vehicles, the 2017 Abarth 595 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Abarth 595?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Abarth 595 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35% of vehicles), Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (27% 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 2017 Abarth 595?

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 595 (2017)

3,281 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.5% first-time pass rate

2017 Abarth 595

CarHunch analysed 3,281 real MOT records for the 2017 Abarth 595. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 2017 Abarth 595 passes its MOT first time in 85.5% of cases, which is a solid 5.5 percentage points above the UK average—but nearly 30% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a notably high figure that buyers should take seriously. This suggests the Abarth's sportier engineering and harder use take their toll on critical safety systems.

At 31,710 miles median for a seven-year-old car, these 595s have been driven moderately and cared for reasonably well overall. The average of 1.09 failures per test is manageable, but 8.3 advisories per vehicle reveals that wear items and minor issues accumulate; budget for routine attention to brakes, exhaust, and suspension components before they become failures, and always get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the dangerous defect history.

The 2017 Abarth 595 has a decent first-time pass rate (86.5%), 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

86.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

29.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.09

Over 7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

32k

Middle half: 23k–42k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 8.3 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 3,281 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 3,281 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 35.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear 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.

Brake wear 27%

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

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

Suspension & steering 13.8%

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

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

Other issues 8.6%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,281 Abarth 595 cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Abarth 595

Based on MOT data from 3,281 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.2% 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%)	3,251	86.5%	1.1

Colour Breakdown

Based on 19,905 Abarth 595 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 36.6%

7,287

Red 16.7%

3,330

Black 13.5%

2,691

White 13.1%

2,608

Blue 11.4%

2,277

Yellow 6.2%

1,238

Green 2%

407

Orange 0.2%

Beige 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Abarth 595 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.

31,710

typical

22,985

low mileage

41,555

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Abarth 595 vehicles fall between 22,985 and 41,555 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,985 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.

✓ 22,985–41,555 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Abarth 595s sit.

⚠ Over 56,099 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Abarth 595 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Abarth 595s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,868 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.09

Avg failures per vehicle

8.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Abarth 595: All 595 years → Which year to buy? →

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Abarth 595 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing