Known APK problem

Fiat 500 (312): springs and shock absorbers

On the Fiat 500 (312) the APK inspector finds springs and shock absorbers problems 6.2× as often as on cars of the same age: at 9–10 years 4.8%, against about 0.8% nationally.

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

What is it?

Broken springs or leaking shock absorbers.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

Ask the seller: Have the shock absorbers or springs ever been 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
5 – 6 years	C	0.5%	0.3 – 0.7%	0.2%	2.3×	4,811
7 – 8 years	B	0.7%	0.6 – 0.9%	0.1%	4.7×	11,394
7 – 8 years	C	2.2%	1.9 – 2.4%	0.5%	4.6×	11,394
9 – 10 years	A	0.6%	0.5 – 0.7%	0.7%	0.8×	15,775
9 – 10 years	B	2.6%	2.4 – 2.9%	0.3%	8.5×	15,775
9 – 10 years	C	4.8%	4.5 – 5.1%	0.8%	6.2×	15,775
11 – 12 years	A	0.3%	0.2 – 0.4%	1.5%	0.2×	16,379
11 – 12 years	B	2.5%	2.2 – 2.7%	0.5%	5.4×	16,379
11 – 12 years	C	4.0%	3.7 – 4.3%	1.1%	3.7×	16,379
13 – 15 years	A	0.4%	0.3 – 0.4%	2.0%	0.2×	25,556
13 – 15 years	B	4.5%	4.2 – 4.7%	1.0%	4.6×	25,556
13 – 15 years	C	4.0%	3.8 – 4.3%	1.4%	2.8×	25,556
16+ years	A	0.5%	0.4 – 0.6%	2.5%	0.2×	16,178
16+ years	B	3.6%	3.4 – 3.9%	1.2%	3.1×	16,178
16+ years	C	4.6%	4.3 – 5.0%	1.6%	2.9×	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 9–10 years

Model	Springs and shock absorbers	Vs. national
Fiat 500 (312)	4.8%	6.2×
Ford Ka II	2.0%	2.5×

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) · Springs and shock absorbers: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Fiat 500 (312) often have springs and shock absorbers problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 9–10 years the inspector found a springs and shock absorbers defect on 4.8% of inspected Fiat 500 (312)s, against about 0.8% of all cars of the same age (6.2×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the springs and shock absorbers on a used Fiat 500 (312)?

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

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