Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Fiat 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 2008 Fiat 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 2008 Fiat 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 2008 Fiat 500 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

56% 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 2008 Fiat 500 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 14,443 vehicles, the 2008 Fiat 500 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Fiat 500?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Fiat 500 are: Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (60.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (59.8% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (57.8% 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 2008 Fiat 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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Fiat 500 (2008)

14,443 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.1% first-time pass rate

2008 Fiat 500

CarHunch analysed 14,443 real MOT records for the 2008 Fiat 500. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 2008 Fiat 500 has a 73% first-time pass rate, notably below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 55.5% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point—this is a significant reliability red flag for any prospective buyer. Both petrol and diesel variants struggle equally, with pass rates of 73.3% and 71.6% respectively, suggesting the problem isn't fuel-type specific.

At 57,000 miles median for a 16-year-old car, these 500s are running well within expected mileage, yet they're still accumulating an average of 5.17 failures and 30.8 advisories per test, pointing to age-related wear rather than abuse. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, electrics, and rust—the high advisory count suggests these are the recurring weak points on this generation.

The 2008 Fiat 500 has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

73.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

55.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.17

Over 18.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

57k

Middle half: 43k–71k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 30.8 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 14,443 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 14,443 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 60.3%

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · 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.

Brake wear 57.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · 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.

Tyre wear 53.9%

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

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

Other issues 52.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 14,443 Fiat 500 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.4%

Petrol

11,957 vehicles

71.6%

Diesel

2,485 vehicles

Before you buy a 2008 Fiat 500

Based on MOT data from 14,443 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 55.6% 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 (83%)	11,957	73.4%	5.19
Diesel (17%)	2,485	71.6%	5.05

Colour Breakdown

Based on 329,016 Fiat 500 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 36.3%

119,575

Red 15.1%

49,760

Blue 12.2%

40,131

Grey 11.7%

38,464

Black 8.3%

27,352

Green 7.3%

24,182

Pink 2.5%

8,093

Beige 2.2%

7,363

Yellow 1.9%

6,176

Purple 1.2%

3,921

Silver 1%

3,434

Orange 0.2%

565

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Fiat 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.

57,093

typical

43,071

low mileage

71,165

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Fiat 500 vehicles fall between 43,071 and 71,165 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 43,071 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.

✓ 43,071–71,165 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Fiat 500s sit.

⚠ Over 96,072 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Fiat 500 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 69% of 2008 Fiat 500s are still active.

9,420 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 69% 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

18.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.17

Avg failures per vehicle

30.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Fiat 500 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on