2002 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Fiat Punto passed 68.6% of its 7,422 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.4% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests against 12.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — prescribed areas alone was recorded 858 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.6% in the 0-30k band and 31.3% in the 150k+ band, a 10.7-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 28.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 1,330 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 929 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 803 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 9.0% | 667 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.7% | 648 |
| 6 | Brakes | 8.4% | 621 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 858 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 765 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 665 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 633 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 464 |
| 6 | Wipers | 451 |
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 | 39.3% | 2,913 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 2,163 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.9% | 1,921 |
| 4 | Brakes | 25.7% | 1,910 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 1,727 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 980 |
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 | 355 | 20.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,299 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,920 | 32.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,336 | 35.3% |
| 120-150k | 393 | 35.9% |
| 150k+ | 115 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,265 | 31.3% |
| Diesel | 157 | 33.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,565 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 1,829 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 1,368 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 939 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 721 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Punto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.5% 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+.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
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 2002 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 7,422 2002 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Fiat Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.5%).
Does the 2002 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 0-30k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,422 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.