Fiat Grand Punto MOT pass rate & common failures
The Fiat Grand Punto appears in 25,966 MOT tests spanning model years 2006–2016, and 72.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.3% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,854 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.8% in the 0-30k band and 32.2% in the 150k+ band, a 8.4-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 27.1% of the time against 27.4% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Grand Punto model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 662 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 2,297 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 6,289 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 12,131 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 4,278 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 224 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 50 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 4,490 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 3,336 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 1,886 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.7% | 1,726 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 1,552 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,527 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,365 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.6% | 675 |
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 | 1,854 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,765 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 1,639 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,273 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,214 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 959 |
| 7 | Washers | 931 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 916 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.3% | 9,177 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.3% | 8,123 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.8% | 5,393 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 4,556 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.2% | 4,217 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 3,669 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,195 | 23.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,383 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 9,357 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,567 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,310 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 540 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,858 | 27.4% |
| Diesel | 3,108 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,775 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 5,997 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 5,231 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 4,408 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 3,555 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Grand Punto
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Grand Punto?
72.6% of the 25,966 Fiat Grand Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.4% fail rate, across model years 2006–2016.
What does the Fiat Grand Punto most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, then suspension (12.8%).
How much does mileage affect Grand Punto MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.2% for 150k+, a 8.4-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Grand Punto more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 27.1% of the time against 27.4% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,966 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.