Fiat Punto Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Fiat Punto passes its MOT first time on 54.7% of tests, 7.9 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (62.6%). That puts it ahead of 18% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2009 Punto does best (beats 29% of cars) and the 2014 worst (beats 2%).

Of its engines, the 1.2 Diesel does best (beats 33%) and the 1.2 Petrol worst (beats 16%).

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.4×as often as a typical car

Emissions & leaks2.0×as often as a typical car

Exhaust emissions (catalyst)3.5×as often as a typical car

Exhaust system2.5×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 PuntoTypical 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 14%

Beats 12%

Beats 16%

Beats 18%

Beats 18%

Beats 16%

Beats 23%

Beats 28%

Beats 23%

Beats 24%

Beats 25%

Beats 29%

Beats 23%

Beats 15%

Beats 6%

Beats 2%

Beats 2%

Beats 3%

Beats 3%

Beats 1%

Beats 0%

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	1998–2018	531,967	53.2%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	2004–2017	324,958	57.2%	Beats 19%	E
1.2 Diesel	2004–2013	30,301	55.0%	Beats 33%	D
1.9 Diesel	2006–2008	7,009	50.1%	Beats 31%	D
0.9 Petrol	2012–2013	4,264	62.4%	Beats 11%	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

Lights: 22.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 16.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

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

Lights & electrics

22.7% vs 16.7%

Suspension

16.5% vs 13.3%

Brakes

9.9% vs 9.4%

Emissions & leaks

8.8% vs 4.4%

Visibility

8.5% vs 6.2%

Body & structure

8.2% vs 5.1%

Tyres

7.8% vs 7.0%

Steering

3.5% vs 2.6%

Seat belts & airbags

2.9% vs 1.5%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 3.5× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
Exhaust system 2.5× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.
Headlight aim 1.6× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Sidelights 1.5× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Coil springs 1.6× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Handbrake performance 2.0× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Fiat PuntoTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	6.7%	4.2%	1.6×
Sidelights	6.1%	4.1%	1.5×
Coil springs	5.5%	3.5%	1.6×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)	4.9%	1.4%	3.5×
Brake lights	4.6%	3.4%	1.4×
Exhaust system	4.5%	1.8%	2.5×
Windscreen washers	4.0%	2.7%	1.5×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.9%	3.0%	1.3×
Tyre tread depth	3.7%	2.9%	1.3×
Handbrake performance	3.7%	1.9%	2.0×

Specific defects found

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

Defect	per 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	66.7
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	55.0
Exhaust system leaking or insecure	43.5
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	41.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	40.0
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	37.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	37.1
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer	34.5

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.

2018 Fiat Punto1 engine72.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	1,563	72.4%	Beats 0%	E

2017 Fiat Punto2 engines74.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	6,853	74.1%	Beats 0%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,670	76.6%	Beats 2%	E

2016 Fiat Punto2 engines74.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	11,071	73.5%	Beats 2%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,272	77.3%	Beats 13%	E

2015 Fiat Punto2 engines70.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	18,271	70.7%	Beats 3%	E
1.4 Petrol	3,411	71.8%	Beats 6%	E

2014 Fiat Punto2 engines63.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	23,717	63.0%	Beats 1%	E
1.4 Petrol	7,999	64.3%	Beats 2%	E

2013 Fiat Punto4 engines58.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	21,100	57.5%	Beats 1%	E
1.4 Petrol	15,686	59.7%	Beats 3%	E
1.2 Diesel	1,700	62.9%	Beats 15%	E
0.9 Petrol	1,684	62.5%	Beats 6%	E

2012 Fiat Punto4 engines59.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	29,415	59.4%	Beats 6%	E
1.2 Petrol	22,703	58.3%	Beats 5%	E
0.9 Petrol	2,580	62.3%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Diesel	1,999	64.8%	Beats 35%	D

2011 Fiat Punto3 engines58.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	29,575	59.1%	Beats 17%	E
1.2 Petrol	25,579	58.7%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Diesel	1,467	56.7%	Beats 17%	E

2010 Fiat Punto2 engines57.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	79,405	57.6%	Beats 22%	D
1.2 Diesel	2,310	56.3%	Beats 27%	D

2009 Fiat Punto3 engines57.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	73,234	57.3%	Beats 28%	D
1.2 Diesel	5,618	56.6%	Beats 37%	D
1.2 Petrol	4,877	57.0%	Beats 27%	D

2008 Fiat Punto4 engines53.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	54,521	51.8%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	31,130	55.2%	Beats 32%	D
1.2 Diesel	7,233	53.9%	Beats 36%	D
1.9 Diesel	1,455	51.4%	Beats 30%	D

2007 Fiat Punto4 engines51.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	100,859	51.3%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Petrol	27,317	52.4%	Beats 27%	D
1.2 Diesel	4,589	52.6%	Beats 34%	D
1.9 Diesel	2,638	50.8%	Beats 33%	D

2006 Fiat Punto4 engines49.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	83,244	49.9%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Petrol	22,268	49.0%	Beats 21%	D
1.2 Diesel	3,862	50.1%	Beats 34%	D
1.9 Diesel	2,916	48.9%	Beats 30%	D

2005 Fiat Punto1 engine51.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	32,232	51.7%	Beats 28%	D

2004 Fiat Punto3 engines47.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	51,819	47.9%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Petrol	1,576	47.5%	Beats 27%	D
1.2 Diesel	1,523	49.2%	Beats 39%	D

2003 Fiat Punto1 engine45.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	35,597	45.8%	Beats 16%	E

2002 Fiat Punto1 engine47.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	21,106	47.3%	Beats 18%	E

2001 Fiat Punto1 engine49.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	9,867	49.6%	Beats 18%	E

2000 Fiat Punto1 engine49.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	3,834	49.7%	Beats 16%	E

1999 Fiat Punto1 engine52.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	1,592	52.0%	Beats 12%	E

1998 Fiat Punto1 engine53.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	1,562	53.7%	Beats 14%	E

FAQ

What is the Fiat Punto MOT pass rate?

54.7% of MOT tests on the Fiat Punto were passed first time, based on 898,499 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1998–2018. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 62.6% of the time.

Is the Fiat Punto reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 18% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Fiat Punto year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2009 Punto does best for its age and mileage: it beats 29% of cars on UK roads. The 2014 does worst: it beats 2%.

Which Fiat Punto engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.2 Diesel does best: it beats 33% of cars on UK roads. The 1.2 Petrol does worst: it beats 16%.

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

The most common failure items are headlight aim, sidelights, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, exhaust emissions (catalyst) comes up 3.5× 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 Punto 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