Known APK problem

Fiat 500 (312): brakes

On the Fiat 500 (312) the APK inspector finds brakes problems 60% more often than on cars of the same age: at 16+ years 9.5%, against about 5.9% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Fiat 500 (312)s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	500 (312)	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
3 – 4 years	A	0.9%	0.7 – 1.3%	0.4%	2.1×	3,808
3 – 4 years	B	0.9%	0.7 – 1.3%	0.6%	1.5×	3,808
5 – 6 years	A	1.0%	0.8 – 1.4%	0.7%	1.4×	4,811
5 – 6 years	B	1.7%	1.4 – 2.1%	1.2%	1.4×	4,811
5 – 6 years	C	1.3%	1.0 – 1.7%	1.9%	0.7×	4,811
7 – 8 years	A	1.9%	1.7 – 2.2%	1.2%	1.6×	11,394
7 – 8 years	B	3.9%	3.6 – 4.3%	1.4%	2.7×	11,394
7 – 8 years	C	2.5%	2.2 – 2.8%	2.5%	1.0×	11,394
9 – 10 years	A	2.2%	2.0 – 2.5%	1.7%	1.3×	15,775
9 – 10 years	B	4.0%	3.7 – 4.3%	1.6%	2.5×	15,775
9 – 10 years	C	2.5%	2.3 – 2.8%	2.8%	0.9×	15,775
11 – 12 years	A	2.9%	2.6 – 3.2%	2.9%	1.0×	16,379
11 – 12 years	B	3.9%	3.6 – 4.2%	1.8%	2.2×	16,379
11 – 12 years	C	2.6%	2.3 – 2.8%	2.9%	0.9×	16,379
13 – 15 years	A	4.6%	4.4 – 4.9%	3.8%	1.2×	25,556
13 – 15 years	B	3.9%	3.7 – 4.1%	2.0%	2.0×	25,556
13 – 15 years	C	2.7%	2.5 – 3.0%	3.0%	0.9×	25,556
16+ years	A	9.5%	9.1 – 10.0%	5.9%	1.6×	16,178
16+ years	B	4.5%	4.2 – 4.9%	2.1%	2.1×	16,178
16+ years	C	3.7%	3.4 – 4.0%	3.4%	1.1×	16,178

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 16+ years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Fiat 500 (312)	9.5%	1.6×
Citroën C1 I	9.1%	1.5×
Peugeot 107	9.7%	1.6×
Ford Ka II	8.4%	1.4×
Suzuki Alto (2009)	3.3%	0.5×
Hyundai i10 I	9.7%	1.6×

Looking at a Fiat 500 (312)? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Fiat 500 (312)s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Fiat 500 (312) · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Fiat 500 (312) often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 16+ years the inspector found a brakes defect on 9.5% of inspected Fiat 500 (312)s, against about 5.9% of all cars of the same age (1.6×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Fiat 500 (312)?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know