Fiat Grande Punto MOT pass rate & common failures
The Fiat Grande Punto appears in 49,732 MOT tests spanning model years 2006–2021, and 72.5% of them passed. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests against 12.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 4,117 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.3% in the 0-30k band and 31.2% in the 150k+ band, a 9.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.9% of the time against 27.6% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Grande Punto model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 601 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 7,830 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 31,593 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 9,079 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 548 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 32 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 8,595 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.7% | 6,329 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 4,211 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 3,093 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 3,075 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 2,995 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.5% | 2,712 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.1% | 1,025 |
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 | 4,117 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,506 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,438 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 2,607 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 2,458 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 2,111 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 1,918 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 1,805 |
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 | 36.8% | 18,299 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.7% | 15,277 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.8% | 9,821 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 8,551 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 8,530 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 6,726 |
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 | 2,179 | 21.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,930 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 18,992 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 13,635 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,222 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 873 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 47,627 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 2,105 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,575 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 11,455 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 10,196 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 8,602 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 6,904 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Grande 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 (12.7% 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 (8.5% 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 Grande Punto?
72.5% of the 49,732 Fiat Grande Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.5% fail rate, across model years 2006–2021.
What does the Fiat Grande Punto most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, then suspension (12.7%).
How much does mileage affect Grande Punto MOT results?
Fail rates run at 21.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 31.2% for 150k+, a 9.9-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Grande Punto more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 26.9% of the time against 27.6% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 49,732 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.