Fiat 500l (2016)

1,664 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.9% first-time pass rate

2016 Fiat 500l

CarHunch analysed 1,664 real MOT records for the 2016 Fiat 500l. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2016 Fiat 500L passes its MOT at 80.9%, marginally above the UK average of 80%, but nearly a third of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—that's a significant safety concern for buyers. Petrol versions perform slightly better at 82.2% pass rate versus 80.1% for diesels, though the difference is modest.

At 41,153 miles on average, these eight-year-old cars are running below typical mileage for their age, which is encouraging. However, they rack up 1.8 failures and 9.1 advisories per test, suggesting that while many pass first time, they're prone to accumulating niggles around suspension, brakes, and electrics—have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the electrical gremlins that plague this model.

Below average reliability In line with UK average
80.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
40,329
typical mileage
29,087–54,178 middle half
31.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.8
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.7 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

82.2%
Petrol
603 vehicles
80.1%
Diesel
1,059 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2016 Fiat 500l

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 31.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Fiat 500l

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (64%) 1,059 80.1% 1.86
Petrol (36%) 603 82.2% 1.7
Electric (0%) 1 77.8% 2
Gas Diesel (0%) 1 70% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Fiat 500l vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

29,087
low mileage
40,329
typical
54,178
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Fiat 500l vehicles fall between 29,087 and 54,178 miles.

2016 Fiat 500l — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 1,543 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 96% of the peak.

95 1,543 2018 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.

MOT History Averages

8.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.8
Avg failures per vehicle
9.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Fiat 500l

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 42.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 39.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 31.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 30.7%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 26.5%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 22.5%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 17.7%
    Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()
  • 15.3%
    Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Fiat 500l?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Fiat 500l:

2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019