2006 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 57,131 MOT tests, the 2006 Fiat Punto recorded a 69.5% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 28.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.4%) and suspension (15.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 4,484 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.9% versus 19.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 30.5% of the time against 30.6% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 10,537 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.5% | 8,857 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 5,052 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 4,868 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.1% | 4,617 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 3,726 |
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 | 4,484 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,959 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 3,732 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,393 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 3,018 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 2,789 |
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 | 39.9% | 22,796 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 17,833 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.3% | 13,310 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 10,316 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 9,820 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 9,756 |
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 | 1,431 | 19.9% |
| 30-60k | 8,359 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 20,831 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 18,383 | 32.9% |
| 120-150k | 5,775 | 34.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,581 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 54,259 | 30.6% |
| Diesel | 2,872 | 30.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,528 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 14,052 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 10,789 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 8,005 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 5,757 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Punto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.8% 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 2006 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 57,131 2006 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Fiat Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.5%).
Does the 2006 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.9% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,131 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.