1995 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
372 MOT tests on the 1995 Fiat Punto are in this dataset, and 71.0% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 27.9%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.8%) and lighting & signalling (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Punto fails 29.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 32.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.5% in 2021 to 26.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.8% | 55 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 52 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 32 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 32 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.2% | 23 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 23 |
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 | 41 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 32 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 26 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 23 |
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 | 33.9% | 126 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 114 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 77 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 68 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.5% | 65 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 44 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 175 | 29.7% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 46 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 111 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 87 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 66 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 62 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 46 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Punto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.8% 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 (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1995 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 372 1995 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Fiat Punto?
Brakes, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.0%).
Does the 1995 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 372 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.