2010 Abarth Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Abarth Punto passed 77.6% of its 433 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 2010 Punto comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.8% of all tests — 6.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Punto fails 20.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.1% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 64 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.1% | 35 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 33 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 16 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 13 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.8% | 116 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.9% | 108 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.0% | 104 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 64 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 21 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 60 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 171 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 141 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 102 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 81 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 76 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 75 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Punto
On a 2010 Punto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (7.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2010 Abarth Puntos pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 433 2010 Abarth Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Abarth Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.1%).
Does the 2010 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 17.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 433 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.