Used Abarth 595 2009-2024 reliability
Category: Hot hatch
Pint-sized pocket rockets don’t come much smaller than the Abarth 595; it’s an entertaining car for tackling the city streets.
What should I look for in a used Abarth 595 hatchback?
The Abarth 500/595 is a performance car, so check for accident damage. Poor bodywork repairs could hide all sorts of problems later in the life of the car, so get an HPI check done because it will let you know if the car has been written off by the insurance company at any point in its life.
If you’re in need of further reassurance, then the AA and RAC offer pre-purchase inspection services that involve a trained inspector viewing your potential purchase, for a fee, and will point out any potential issues with it.
What are the most common problems with a used Abarth 595 hatchback?
An early 500 with Bluetooth may have issues working with some Apple products, but this was sorted on later cars. Regarding the rest of the interior, a few squeaks and rattles are to be expected.
There have been other issues with door handles working themselves loose and windscreen washer jets failing, but no truly major problems have been found.
Is a used Abarth 595 hatchback reliable?
The Abarth 500/595 didn’t feature in our latest What Car? Reliability survey, but it is based on the Fiat 500.
Alas reliability isn't a strong suit – far from it. In the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the 500 ranked 14th out of 15 cars in the small car class. Its overall score was a moderate 82.1%, slightly down on its usual ratings. It finished above the Audi A1 and Seat Ibiza but below nearly all of its rivals, including the Kia Picanto, Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris.
Fiat as a brand came 27th out of 31 manufacturers featured, another lower result than normal. It scored 88.1%. That put it above rivals like Ford, Nissan, Seat and Vauxhall, but below Citroen, Dacia, Hyundai and Kia.
Used Fiat 500 reliability: the owners' view
As part of our annual Reliability Survey, What Car? readers said the Fiat 500 enjoys rather mixed reliability, with some owners praising its dependability while others reported recurring issues.
Common problems include faulty electrics, particularly with warning lights appearing on the dashboard, and issues with the air conditioning system. Some drivers also experienced gearbox faults, leading to costly repairs.
Feedback on dealer service was varied. Several readers highlighted slow response times from Fiat dealerships, particularly when ordering parts for repairs, resulting in longer-than-expected wait times. Several owners felt the cost of repairs was higher than anticipated, especially for more serious mechanical issues. On the positive side, a few drivers praised their local dealerships for providing good customer service and fixing minor faults quickly.
Overall, while many Fiat 500 owners found their cars to be reliable, inconsistent dealership experiences and electrical issues were a source of frustration for some.
If you would like to see the full reliability list for city cars, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
