Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Abarth 595 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% 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 2018 Abarth 595 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,766 vehicles, the 2018 Abarth 595 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Abarth 595?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 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 2018 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 (2018)

3,766 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.6% first-time pass rate

2018 Abarth 595

CarHunch analysed 3,766 real MOT records for the 2018 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 2018 Abarth 595 passes its MOT on the first attempt 84% of the time, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, but nearly a quarter of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a meaningful concern for safety-conscious buyers. This small Italian hot hatch shows no fuel type variation (essentially all petrol), so reliability is consistent across the range.

At 27,261 miles median, these cars are running light for their age, which partly explains the solid pass rate and suggests most owners are using them sparingly rather than as daily workhorses. The average 5.8 advisories per vehicle suggests minor wear items (suspension, trim, lights) crop up regularly, while 0.81 failures per vehicle indicates most don't need major repairs—but before buying, check the service history carefully and factor in the high dangerous defect rate with a pre-purchase inspection from a Fiat-specialist mechanic.

The 2018 Abarth 595 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

87.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

23.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.81

Over 5.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

27k

Middle half: 20k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.6% 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 5.8 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 3,766 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,766 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 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,766 Abarth 595 cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Abarth 595

Based on MOT data from 3,766 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.9% 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%)	3,734	87.5%	0.81

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 2018 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.

27,261

typical

19,848

low mileage

36,069

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Abarth 595 vehicles fall between 19,848 and 36,069 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,848 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.

✓ 19,848–36,069 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Abarth 595s sit.

⚠ Over 48,693 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Abarth 595 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Abarth 595s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,323 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.81

Avg failures per vehicle

5.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022

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Average reliability — agree?