Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Fiat 500l?

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 Fiat 500l?

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 Fiat 500l?

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.

Is the 2018 Fiat 500l reliable?

Based on MOT data from 599 vehicles, the 2018 Fiat 500l has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Fiat 500l?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Fiat 500l are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (42.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (39.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (31.8% 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 2018 Fiat 500l?

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 500l (2018)

599 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.1% first-time pass rate

2018 Fiat 500l

CarHunch analysed 599 real MOT records for the 2018 Fiat 500l. 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 Fiat 500L is just slightly more reliable than the UK average, with an 81.6% first-time pass rate versus the national 80%, though 18.2% of examples have recorded dangerous defects—a moderately concerning proportion worth investigating before purchase. Petrol and diesel variants perform nearly identically (81.5% and 82.1% respectively), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor here.

These cars are running light mileage for their age (28,293 median), which partly explains the decent pass rate, but they're averaging 1.3 failures per test and 5.5 advisories—suggesting modest but persistent wear issues. Before buying, request a full MOT history and specifically check for any previous dangerous defect flags, particularly around braking or structural components.

The 2018 Fiat 500l passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (82.1%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

82.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.3

Over 6.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 20k–39k

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 5.5 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 599 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 599 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 42.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Brake wear 26.5%

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

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

Other issues 17.7%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 15.3%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

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

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 599 Fiat 500l cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Fiat 500l

Based on MOT data from 599 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.2% 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 (77%)	459	81.9%	1.32
Diesel (23%)	140	82.7%	1.24

Colour Breakdown

Based on 21,990 Fiat 500l vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 25.8%

5,664

White 23.5%

5,160

Grey 12.8%

2,812

Black 9.3%

2,035

Yellow 7.4%

1,628

Green 7.2%

1,588

Blue 6.2%

1,365

Silver 3.9%

864

Beige 1.9%

415

Cream 0.8%

173

Orange 0.7%

145

Bronze 0.6%

141

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Fiat 500l 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.

28,293

typical

20,051

low mileage

39,039

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Fiat 500l vehicles fall between 20,051 and 39,039 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 20,051 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.

✓ 20,051–39,039 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Fiat 500ls sit.

⚠ Over 52,702 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Fiat 500l — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Fiat 500ls are still on the road.

Strong survival — 576 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% 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

6.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.3

Avg failures per vehicle

5.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Fiat 500l stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?