2018 Fiat Panda — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Fiat Panda passed 89.7% of its 14,797 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 9.8%, so the 2018 Panda sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.9%) and suspension (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, coil spring and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 524 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.1% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 90-120k band, a 16.9-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.3% of the time against 11.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 582 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.9% | 577 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 522 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.8% | 415 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 227 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 161 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 524 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 475 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 386 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 205 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 149 |
| 6 | Washers | 138 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 17.2% | 2,551 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 1,809 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 781 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 639 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 310 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 275 |
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 | 10,211 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,893 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 584 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 92 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,238 | 10.3% |
| Diesel | 554 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,843 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 2,913 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 2,977 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 2,995 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 3,069 | 14.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Panda
On a 2018 Panda, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 Fiat Pandas pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 14,797 2018 Fiat Panda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Panda?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by suspension (3.9%).
Does the 2018 Panda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,797 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.