Fiat Panda Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Fiat Panda passes its MOT first time on 65.5% of tests, 5.5 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (71.0%). That puts it ahead of 20% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2005 Panda does best (beats 31% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 7%).

Of its engines, the 1.2 Petrol does best (beats 21%) and the 0.9 Petrol worst (beats 16%).

Watch these weak spots

Suspension1.7×as often as a typical car

Tyres1.3×as often as a typical car

Shock absorbers5.9×as often as a typical car

Suspension arm bushes3.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Fiat PandaTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 27%

Beats 31%

Beats 26%

Beats 24%

Beats 25%

Beats 19%

Beats 15%

Beats 12%

Beats 26%

Beats 26%

Beats 20%

Beats 15%

Beats 7%

Beats 7%

Beats 10%

Beats 10%

Beats 15%

Beats 2%

Beats 23%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	2004–2020	473,596	68.1%	Beats 21%	D
1.1 Petrol	2004–2012	191,535	57.4%	Beats 17%	E
0.9 Petrol	2012–2021	65,792	75.4%	Beats 16%	E
1.2 Diesel	2005–2016	55,107	59.2%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	2006–2010	13,327	65.0%	Beats 68%	B
1.0 Petrol	2021–2022	3,263	87.2%	Beats 8%	E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Suspension: 16.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 9.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Suspension

16.0% vs 9.2%

Lights & electrics

10.9% vs 11.6%

Brakes

7.8% vs 6.5%

Tyres

7.5% vs 5.8%

Visibility

6.4% vs 5.0%

Body & structure

4.1% vs 3.3%

Emissions & leaks

3.8% vs 2.8%

Steering

1.6% vs 1.7%

Seat belts & airbags

0.7% vs 0.9%

Wheels

0.1% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Shock absorbers 5.9× typical
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
Suspension arm bushes 3.6× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Tyre tread depth 2.1× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
Handbrake performance 2.2× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Windscreen wipers 1.5× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Exhaust system 2.1× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Fiat PandaTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Shock absorbers	5.9%	1.0%	5.9×
Tyre tread depth	4.4%	2.1%	2.1×
Suspension arm bushes	3.9%	1.1%	3.6×
Windscreen wipers	3.7%	2.5%	1.5×
Sidelights	3.5%	2.6%	1.3×
Tyre damage & cracking	2.9%	3.3%	0.9×
Handbrake performance	2.7%	1.2%	2.2×
Brake lights	2.7%	2.4%	1.1×
Headlight aim	2.6%	3.1%	0.8×
Exhaust system	2.4%	1.2%	2.1×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	69.6
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	44.4
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	36.3
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage	30.6
A shock absorber bush excessively worn	28.3
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	26.4
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	24.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	23.7

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2022 Fiat Panda1 engine89.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	1,161	89.4%	Beats 23%	D

2021 Fiat Panda2 engines84.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	2,102	86.0%	Beats 4%	E
0.9 Petrol	1,040	81.3%	Beats 0%	E

2020 Fiat Panda2 engines87.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	4,005	88.1%	Beats 23%	D
0.9 Petrol	1,847	84.4%	Beats 6%	E

2019 Fiat Panda2 engines84.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	8,161	85.3%	Beats 9%	E
0.9 Petrol	4,337	83.9%	Beats 12%	E

2018 Fiat Panda2 engines83.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	12,038	83.6%	Beats 9%	E
0.9 Petrol	2,872	83.7%	Beats 13%	E

2017 Fiat Panda2 engines81.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	19,043	81.5%	Beats 9%	E
0.9 Petrol	4,232	79.2%	Beats 4%	E

2016 Fiat Panda3 engines78.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	29,843	78.4%	Beats 7%	E
0.9 Petrol	6,164	79.4%	Beats 11%	E
1.2 Diesel	2,126	75.6%	Beats 8%	E

2015 Fiat Panda3 engines77.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	55,934	77.5%	Beats 15%	E
0.9 Petrol	10,166	77.3%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Diesel	3,541	74.2%	Beats 16%	E

2014 Fiat Panda3 engines74.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	49,404	75.3%	Beats 24%	D
0.9 Petrol	13,123	73.0%	Beats 15%	E
1.2 Diesel	7,678	69.8%	Beats 13%	E

2013 Fiat Panda3 engines71.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	44,371	72.9%	Beats 32%	D
0.9 Petrol	14,992	70.4%	Beats 20%	E
1.2 Diesel	7,317	65.6%	Beats 14%	E

2012 Fiat Panda4 engines69.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	46,997	69.3%	Beats 26%	D
0.9 Petrol	7,019	70.0%	Beats 30%	D
1.1 Petrol	1,943	63.1%	Beats 6%	E
1.2 Diesel	1,146	64.1%	Beats 23%	D

2011 Fiat Panda2 engines62.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	39,023	62.8%	Beats 12%	E
1.1 Petrol	8,624	61.4%	Beats 11%	E

2010 Fiat Panda4 engines59.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	53,673	59.8%	Beats 15%	E
1.2 Petrol	21,157	59.8%	Beats 15%	E
1.2 Diesel	5,110	57.2%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,494	67.3%	Beats 61%	B

2009 Fiat Panda4 engines59.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	61,611	58.6%	Beats 16%	E
1.2 Petrol	23,951	60.4%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	5,535	54.0%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,716	67.5%	Beats 71%	B

2008 Fiat Panda4 engines56.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	21,086	58.3%	Beats 26%	D
1.1 Petrol	16,251	56.1%	Beats 18%	E
1.2 Diesel	8,616	51.8%	Beats 20%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,829	66.2%	Beats 73%	B

2007 Fiat Panda4 engines55.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	25,522	55.8%	Beats 23%	D
1.1 Petrol	17,311	52.8%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Diesel	6,323	51.9%	Beats 26%	D
1.4 Petrol	5,269	62.9%	Beats 68%	B

2006 Fiat Panda4 engines54.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	27,010	54.8%	Beats 27%	D
1.1 Petrol	12,422	53.2%	Beats 21%	D
1.2 Diesel	4,350	49.8%	Beats 27%	D
1.4 Petrol	1,019	62.4%	Beats 67%	B

2005 Fiat Panda3 engines53.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	22,270	54.2%	Beats 32%	D
1.1 Petrol	10,707	54.0%	Beats 29%	D
1.2 Diesel	3,365	49.6%	Beats 31%	D

2004 Fiat Panda2 engines51.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	23,781	52.4%	Beats 30%	D
1.1 Petrol	8,993	49.7%	Beats 19%	E

FAQ

What is the Fiat Panda MOT pass rate?

65.5% of MOT tests on the Fiat Panda were passed first time, based on 802,620 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2004–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 71.0% of the time.

Is the Fiat Panda reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 20% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Fiat Panda year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2005 Panda does best for its age and mileage: it beats 31% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 7%.

Which Fiat Panda engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.2 Petrol does best: it beats 21% of cars on UK roads. The 0.9 Petrol does worst: it beats 16%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Fiat Panda?

The most common failure items are shock absorbers, tyre tread depth, suspension arm bushes. Compared with similar cars, shock absorbers comes up 5.9× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Fiat Panda reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ