2011 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Fiat Punto passed 74.3% of its 40,367 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 23.8% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests against 10.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and individual direction indicators — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,867 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.9% versus 16.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.6% fail against 27.2% for diesel, a 1.5-point gap across 40,367 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 6,866 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.5% | 4,254 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 3,011 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 2,638 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 2,073 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 2,072 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,867 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,250 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 2,019 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,984 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 1,660 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 1,448 |
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 | 30.6% | 12,355 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 11,810 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.6% | 7,910 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 6,992 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 5,642 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 5,326 |
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 | 1,087 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 8,752 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 17,784 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 10,084 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,217 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 383 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 39,004 | 25.6% |
| Diesel | 1,363 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,927 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 8,679 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 8,464 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 7,645 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 6,652 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Punto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
- Brakes (7.5% 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.
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 2011 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 40,367 2011 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Fiat Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by suspension (10.5%).
Does the 2011 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,367 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.