2018 Fiat Punto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Fiat Punto passed 84.4% of its 1,867 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.3% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.6%) and visibility (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, wipers and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 119 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 90-120k — 2.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 161 |
| 2 | Visibility | 7.0% | 131 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 112 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.3% | 61 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.2% | 59 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.7% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 119 |
| 2 | Wipers | 118 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 85 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 45 |
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 | 19.1% | 357 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 178 |
| 3 | Steering | 5.8% | 109 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 97 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 62 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 54 |
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 | 1,097 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 606 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 126 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 351 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 357 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 372 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 379 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 408 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Punto
On a 2018 Punto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (6.0% 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 2018 Fiat Puntos pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 1,867 2018 Fiat Punto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Punto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by visibility (7.0%).
Does the 2018 Punto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,867 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.