2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Fiat Panda MOT pass rate and common faults

6,305 MOT tests in 2024. 65.8% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time65.8%
Failed or needed repairs34.2%
Typical mileage at test58,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,305 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush4.3%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.6%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    329 marked dangerous
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.3%
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.6%
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.2%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  8. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.8%
  9. Position lamp: not working1.7%
  10. Stop lamp: not working1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension20.7%
  2. Lights & electrics14.5%
  3. Brakes7.9%
  4. Tyres7.5%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  7. Body & chassis5.1%
  8. Steering1.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.8%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.5%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.0%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Fiat Panda?

In 2024, 65.8% of 2012 Fiat Panda cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,305 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Fiat Panda?

The most common failure reasons were shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Fiat Panda reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).