2009 Fiat Grand Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Fiat Grand Punto passed 73.4% of its 12,131 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the 2009 Grand Punto comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests against 12.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 832 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.4% in the 0-30k band and 31.8% in the 150k+ band, a 8.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.0% of the time against 26.7% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 2,022 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 1,529 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 903 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 738 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.8% | 704 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 669 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 832 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 811 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 773 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 581 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 557 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 484 |
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 | 35.7% | 4,332 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 3,788 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.3% | 2,342 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 2,076 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 2,000 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 1,706 |
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 | 565 | 23.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,079 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,382 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,617 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,020 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 242 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,479 | 26.7% |
| Diesel | 1,652 | 26.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,082 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 2,796 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 2,467 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 2,109 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 1,677 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Grand Punto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (7.4% 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
How many 2009 Fiat Grand Puntos pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 12,131 2009 Fiat Grand Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Fiat Grand Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2009 Grand Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,131 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.