2005 Fiat Panda — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 23,309 MOT tests, the 2005 Fiat Panda recorded a 69.8% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 29.3%, so the 2005 Panda sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.2% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, rbt (sp) and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,384 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.1% in the 0-30k band and 37.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.1-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (32.4% vs 30.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 44.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 4,015 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 2,660 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 2,627 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 1,643 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.7% | 1,566 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 1,349 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,384 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,364 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,335 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,304 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,291 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,133 |
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 | 44.0% | 10,250 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.5% | 6,868 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.1% | 5,150 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 3,829 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 3,181 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 2,739 |
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 | 908 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,491 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 8,551 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,627 | 33.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,066 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 644 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 21,337 | 30.0% |
| Diesel | 1,972 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,070 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 5,343 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 4,686 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 3,952 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 3,258 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Panda
On a 2005 Panda, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.2% 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.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2005 Fiat Pandas pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 23,309 2005 Fiat Panda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Fiat Panda?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 2005 Panda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 37.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,309 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.