MOT performance
Fiat Panda diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 11,978 MOT tests on diesel Fiat Pandas in 2023–2024 (on average 12.1 years old at test, median 74,829 miles), 58.8% passed first time, against 65.5% of 170,615 petrol Fiat Panda tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Fiat Pandas failed 26% more often than comparable cars — 1.26× against 1.15× for the Fiat Panda as a whole.
11,978 MOT tests on 6,183 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 58.8% | ±0.9 pts (95%), n = 11,978 |
| All Fiat Pandas | 65.1% | n = 182,599 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.26× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Fiat Panda overall 1.15× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 11.6% | n = 11,978 |
| Average age at test | 12.1 years | n = 11,978 |
| Registration years covered | 2004–2018 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Fiat Panda fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 170,615 | 11.3 yrs | 65.5% | +15% | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 11,978 | 12.1 yrs | 58.8% | +26% | 11.6% |
Where diesel Fiat Pandas differ
- Noise, emissions and leaks: diesel Fiat Pandas failed 46% more often than the Fiat Panda overall, relative to comparable cars (1.83× vs 1.25×).
- Steering: diesel Fiat Pandas failed 25% more often than the Fiat Panda overall, relative to comparable cars (1.24× vs 0.99×).
- Brakes: diesel Fiat Pandas failed 23% more often than the Fiat Panda overall, relative to comparable cars (1.46× vs 1.19×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Fiat Pandas (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 20.5% (+75%) | 16.1% (+63%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 13.6% (+5%) | 11.6% (-5%) |
| Brakes | 12.2% (+46%) | 8.1% (+19%) |
| Tyres | 8.4% (+29%) | 7.0% (+20%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.3% (+28%) | 6.1% (+20%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.8% (+83%) | 4.3% (+25%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 5.8% (+22%) | 4.9% (+35%) |
| Steering | 3.1% (+24%) | 1.8% (-1%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.1% (-16%) | 0.8% (-11%) |
Most common diesel Fiat Panda failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 4.63% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 4.43% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 4.35% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 4.25% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.04% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | — | 86.9% (8,682) |
| 5-6 | 75.4% (513) | 79.8% (12,225) |
| 7-8 | 68.8% (1,556) | 74.6% (23,924) |
| 9-10 | 62.2% (2,818) | 70.2% (27,260) |
| 11-12 | 58.0% (997) | 63.6% (24,429) |
| 13-15 | 53.7% (3,674) | 57.4% (43,451) |
| 16+ | 52.4% (2,359) | 52.8% (28,266) |
Fiat Panda by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2004 Fiat Panda · 50.2%
- 2005 Fiat Panda · 53.2%
- 2006 Fiat Panda · 52.6%
- 2007 Fiat Panda · 53.7%
- 2008 Fiat Panda · 54.6%
- 2009 Fiat Panda · 58.1%
- 2010 Fiat Panda · 58.0%
- 2011 Fiat Panda · 60.8%
- 2012 Fiat Panda · 66.4%
- 2013 Fiat Panda · 68.3%
- 2014 Fiat Panda · 71.2%
- 2015 Fiat Panda · 73.2%
- 2016 Fiat Panda · 75.4%
- 2017 Fiat Panda · 79.3%
- 2018 Fiat Panda · 82.4%
- 2019 Fiat Panda · 85.8%
- 2020 Fiat Panda · 91.2%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel Fiat Panda
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.