2012 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Fiat Punto passed 74.6% of its 41,431 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.5% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,724 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.3% versus 16.0%.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 2.3pp more often than diesel ones (25.4% vs 23.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 7,266 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 4,243 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 3,063 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 2,153 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 2,074 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 2,047 |
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 | 2,724 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,648 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,458 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 2,381 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,581 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,463 |
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 | 29.3% | 12,143 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 10,950 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.2% | 7,532 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 6,062 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 5,223 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 4,655 |
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 | 1,947 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 12,678 | 22.2% |
| 60-90k | 17,450 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 7,489 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,541 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 297 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 40,012 | 25.4% |
| Diesel | 1,414 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,945 | 24.7% |
| 2022 | 8,819 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 8,459 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 7,907 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 7,301 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Punto
On a 2012 Punto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (7.4% 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 2012 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 41,431 2012 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Fiat Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2012 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,431 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.