The picture
500: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 1,208 MOT tests, the 500 returns 80.0% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn suspension dust cover. Windscreen damage and a missing suspension dust cover round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 103,345, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
68 occurrences · 5.6% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
24 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 03
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
24 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 04
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
21 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 05
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
18 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 06
Emissions levels exceed default limits
18 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 07
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
17 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 08
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
16 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 09
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
16 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 10
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
16 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£180–£525
If every one of this 500's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a 500?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 500 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.