2008 Fiat Grande Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
7,830 MOT tests on the 2008 Fiat Grande Punto are in this dataset, and 71.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 650 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.0% once past 150k.
The diesel cars hold up better: 27.0% fail against 28.8% for petrol, a 1.8-point gap across 7,830 tests.
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 — 28.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 1,381 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 1,031 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 667 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.5% | 664 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 524 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 466 |
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 | 650 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 575 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 552 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 420 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 400 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 323 |
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% | 2,798 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.0% | 2,424 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.9% | 1,790 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 1,500 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 1,439 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 1,100 |
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 | 283 | 25.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,049 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,739 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,485 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 857 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 197 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,115 | 28.8% |
| Diesel | 715 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,075 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 1,856 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 1,595 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 1,289 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 1,015 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Grande Punto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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
How many 2008 Fiat Grande Puntos pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 7,830 2008 Fiat Grande Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Fiat Grande Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2008 Grande Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,830 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.