2014 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Fiat Punto passed 75.5% of its 24,132 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (19.4% fail rate), the 2014 Punto comes out 5.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.0% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 1,911 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.7% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 4.2pp more often than diesel ones (24.6% vs 20.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 3,148 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 2,063 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 1,581 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.0% | 1,459 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,271 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 1,235 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,911 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,695 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,408 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 911 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 818 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 804 |
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 | 29.0% | 7,008 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.7% | 4,271 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.2% | 4,140 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.0% | 2,173 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 2,035 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 1,788 |
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 | 2,250 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 10,643 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 8,477 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,281 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 382 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 87 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 23,434 | 24.6% |
| Diesel | 691 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,771 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 4,936 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 4,916 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 4,837 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 4,672 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Punto
On a 2014 Punto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (6.6% 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 2014 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 24,132 2014 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Fiat Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2014 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,132 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.