2006 Fiat Grand Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 662 MOT tests, the 2006 Fiat Grand Punto recorded a 67.2% pass rate. That is 5.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.5%) and suspension (18.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — coil spring alone was recorded 55 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.3% in the 30-60k band and 46.0% in the 120-150k band, a 22.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.5% in 2021 to 31.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 129 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.0% | 119 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 59 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 54 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 55 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 51 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 47 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 42 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 42 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 39 |
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 | 38.5% | 255 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.6% | 209 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.1% | 193 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.2% | 160 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.1% | 113 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 110 |
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 | 103 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 238 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 187 | 34.8% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 46.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 481 | 33.3% |
| Diesel | 181 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 214 | 35.5% |
| 2022 | 153 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 127 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 102 | 36.3% |
| 2025 | 66 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Grand Punto
On a 2006 Grand Punto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.0% 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 (8.9% 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 2006 Fiat Grand Puntos pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 662 2006 Fiat Grand Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Fiat Grand Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by suspension (18.0%).
Does the 2006 Grand Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 30-60k band to 46.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 662 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.