Known faults, from the test record
Fiat Panda common problems
What fails on the Fiat Panda at MOT, which parts are behind it, and how each model year compares. From 83,102 DVSA test records.
Data updated
Quick answer
The Fiat Panda's most common MOT problems are suspension bushes, tyres, shock absorbers, recorded in 31.7%, 26.2% and 23.6% of failed tests respectively. By model year, 2020 cars pass most often (83.3%) and 2004 cars least (49.5%), though most of that gap is age. Every figure here is what testers recorded, not what owners reported.
A “common problems” list is usually a forum thread: whoever had the worst day writes the longest post. This one is built the other way, from every Fiat Panda that took an MOT last year and what the tester wrote down. It cannot see breakdowns, electrical gremlins or a gearbox that hunts, because the test does not check those. What it can see, it sees across 83,102 cars.
By component
What wears out on a Panda
Failure items grouped by the part behind them, with the share of failed Fiat Panda tests recording each. A part can carry several DVSA wordings; they are listed beneath. One failed test often lists several items, so shares do not sum to 100%.
1.Suspension bushes
31.7% of failed testsRubber bushes in arms and links perish and split with age and load; the most recorded suspension item on the test.
- “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn” — explained16.7%
- “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn” — explained8.3%
- “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn” — explained4.1%
- “A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc” — explained2.6%
Across all cars, suspension bushes failures climb 20-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long suspension bushes last
2.Tyres
26.2% of failed testsTread wears with every mile and sidewalls age and take kerb damage; the legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters.
- “Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements” — explained14.8%
- “A tyre cords visible or damaged” — explained5.8%
- “A tyre seriously damaged” — explained3.1%
- “A tyre seriously damaged” — explained2.4%
Across all cars, tyres failures run at a similar rate at every age, because they are replaced on a cycle rather than wearing out with the car. How long tyres last
3.Shock absorbers
23.6% of failed testsSeals wear and the damper leaks fluid or loses its action; failure is for a leak or no damping, not for being tired.
- “A shock absorber bush excessively worn” — explained13.1%
- “A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage” — explained10.5%
Across all cars, shock absorbers failures climb 7-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long shock absorbers last
4.Bulbs and lamps
19.6% of failed testsFilament bulbs simply expire; the cheapest and most avoidable failure on the test, and one of the most recorded.
- “A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning” — explained9.1%
- “Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning” — explained6.3%
- “Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements” — explained4.2%
Across all cars, bulbs and lamps failures climb 15-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long bulbs and lamps last
5.Wiper blades and washers
15.0% of failed testsRubber blades harden and split within a year or two; washer jets block and pumps fail.
- “Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen” — explained9.2%
- “Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen” — explained3.9%
- “Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen” — explained2.0%
Across all cars, wiper blades and washers failures run at a similar rate at every age, because they are replaced on a cycle rather than wearing out with the car. How long wiper blades and washers last
6.Parking brake
14.7% of failed testsCables stretch and seize, rear shoes and adjusters wear; efficiency is measured on the roller tester against the vehicle's weight.
7.Coil springs
11.0% of failed testsSprings fatigue and corrode where the coating chips, then snap, often at the bottom coil; potholes and salt accelerate it.
- “A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened” — explained11.0%
Across all cars, coil springs failures climb 20-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 12–14 years. How long coil springs last
8.Exhaust system
9.9% of failed testsSilencers and pipes rust through from the inside on short-trip cars; rubber hangers perish.
- “Exhaust system leaking or insecure” — explained8.0%
- “An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels” — explained1.9%
Across all cars, exhaust system failures climb 104-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long exhaust system last
By registration year
Panda problems by year
MOT pass rate for Fiat Panda cars by the year they were first registered, from years with at least 1,000 tests. Every car in a row is the same age, so the rate is raw. Neighbouring years differ by a year of wear — a step of a point or two is age. The step at 2012, up 6.2 points, is larger than wear explains and most likely marks a change in the cars themselves.
Last column: change on the previous year, in points. Years registered within the last three years have not yet been tested and are not shown.
Before it fails
What testers warn Panda owners about
Advisories are the same parts a year or two earlier. Share of all Fiat Panda tests carrying an advisory for each.
- Tyres46.3% of tests
- Coil springs25.5% of tests
- Suspension bushes18.1% of tests
- Brake discs14.9% of tests
- Shock absorbers14.5% of tests
Go deeper
The rest of the Panda file
Common questions
- What are the most common problems with a Fiat Panda?
- Going by what fails the MOT, suspension bushes (recorded in 31.7% of failed tests), tyres (recorded in 26.2% of failed tests), and shock absorbers (recorded in 23.6% of failed tests). These are the items testers actually record across 83,102 tests, not reports from owners, so they describe what goes wrong at the point where it has to be fixed.
- Which Fiat Panda year is the most reliable?
- By MOT pass rate, Fiat Panda cars registered in 2020 do best at 83.3% and 2004 cars do worst at 49.5%. Most of that ordering is simply age — newer cars pass more — so read the year table for steps larger than a couple of points between neighbouring years; those mark a change in the cars rather than the calendar. The largest such step is at 2012, up 6.2 points on 2011.
- Is the Fiat Panda reliable?
- Adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, the Fiat Panda passes 65.2% of MOTs against a national 72.3%. An MOT measures roadworthiness on the day rather than breakdowns or running costs, so this is a reliability measure in the narrow sense: how often the car meets the legal standard, and what stops it.
- What should I check when buying a used Fiat Panda?
- Start with what fails most: suspension bushes, tyres, shock absorbers. Then read the car's own MOT history for advisories carried year to year without repair — the model tells you what to expect, the history tells you whether this owner dealt with it.
Analysis built from DVSA data of