Fiat Panda MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Fiat Panda passed 65.5% of its first MOT tests, from 92,612 tests in Great Britain. That is 5.9 points below the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Fiat Panda MOT failures
The area that failed most often was suspension, affecting 15.9% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Suspension 15.9% vs 8.9%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 11.4% vs 11.3%
- Brakes 8.0% vs 6.8%
- Tyres 7.1% vs 6.3%
- Visibility 6.1% vs 4.8%
- Body, chassis, structure 4.7% vs 3.4%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 4.1% vs 3.1%
- Steering 1.8% vs 1.8%
- Shock absorbers 5.8% vs 1.1%
- Tread depth 4.2% vs 2.6%
- Pins and bushes 4.1% vs 1.4%
- Position lamp 3.8% vs 2.8%
- Wipers 3.4% vs 2.2%
- Tyres: condition 3.1% vs 3.7%
- Stop lamp 3.0% vs 2.2%
- Rbt (sp) 2.9% vs 1.4%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 4.1% |
| Pins and bushes: Pin or bush excessively worn | 3.8% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 3.3% |
| Shock absorbers: Has a serious fluid leak | 2.9% |
| Shock absorbers: Has an excessively worn bush | 2.9% |
| Position lamp: Not working | 2.9% |
| Rbt (sp): Efficiency below requirements | 2.3% |
| Stop lamp: Not working | 2.2% |
| Exhaust system: Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 2.2% |
| Coil spring: Fractured or broken | 2.1% |
Fiat Panda pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 87.5% for cars aged 3 to 5 years and 53.8% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 3 to 5 years 87.5% vs 71.4%
- 6 to 9 years 74.8% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 62.6% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 53.8% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 86,330 | 66.0% |
| Diesel | 6,273 | 58.7% |
Most common Fiat Panda advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 21.0%
- Coil spring 13.2%
- Shock absorbers 10.3%
- Brake discs 10.0%
- Pins and bushes 8.8%
- Tyres: condition 8.7%
- Exhaust system 7.5%
- Engine oil leaks 5.8%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Fiat models
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Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Panda?
In 2023, 65.5% of Fiat Panda MOT tests were passed first time, from 92,612 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Fiat Panda?
The most common failure area was suspension, which caused 15.9% of tests to fail. Next came lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (11.4%) and brakes (8.0%).
Is the Fiat Panda reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 65.5% is 5.9 points below the average and ranks 79 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Fiat Panda's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.