Fiat Panda common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Fiat Panda at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 92,850 UK MOT tests of the Fiat Panda in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (a slightly worn bush): recorded on 5.2% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 52× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (an excessively worn bush) (55×); exhaust system (a minor leak of exhaust gases) (13×); pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (12×). The most common reasons a Fiat Panda fails its MOT are tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Fiat Panda
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Fiat Panda than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush | Advisory | 2016–2018 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 5.2% | 0.1% | 52× | 4,751 |
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 5.5% | 0.1% | 55× | 1,667 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 9.2% | 0.7% | 13× | 552 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2020–2022 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 5.8% | 0.5% | 12× | 381 |
| Coil spring: corroded | Advisory | 2008–2010 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 23% | 2.7% | 8.6× | 873 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2005–2007 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 6.2% | 0.8% | 7.8× | 1,186 |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | MOT fail | 2009–2011 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6.5% | 1.3% | 5× | 6,211 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | MOT fail | 2006–2008 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 9.9% | 1.9% | 5.2× | 955 |
Fiat Panda by mileage (2013–2015 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 1,908 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (12%) | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (9.4%, 1.9×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 7,154 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (12%) | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush (5.1%, 17×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 7,437 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush (6.2%, 16×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 4,274 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush (6.1%, 20×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 1,886 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.6%, 4.7×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 633 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Coil spring: corroded (7.9%, 3.3×) |
Fiat Panda by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,963 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (5.6×) |
| 2005 | 3,471 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.4×) |
| 2006 | 4,475 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.8×) |
| 2007 | 5,684 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.8×) |
| 2008 | 5,266 | Coil spring: corroded at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (8.2×) |
| 2009 | 10,458 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (10×) |
| 2010 | 9,178 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (12×) |
| 2011 | 5,519 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (15×) |
| 2012 | 6,491 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (20×) |
| 2013 | 7,594 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (15×) |
| 2014 | 8,012 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (20×) |
| 2015 | 7,951 | Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (62×) |
| 2016 | 4,886 | Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (60×) |
| 2017 | 3,539 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (56×) |
| 2018 | 2,662 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (41×) |
| 2019 | 2,593 | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (2.2×) |
| 2020 | 1,748 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (5.3×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Fiat Panda?
In 92,850 UK MOT tests of the Fiat Panda in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (a slightly worn bush): recorded on 5.2% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 52× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (an excessively worn bush) (55×); exhaust system (a minor leak of exhaust gases) (13×); pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (12×). The most common reasons a Fiat Panda fails its MOT are tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn).
Why do Fiat Pandas fail the MOT?
Across 92,850 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Fiat Panda were tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (6.7% of tests); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements) (8% of tests); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (5.8% of tests).
At what mileage do Fiat Panda problems start?
The clearest Fiat Panda-specific issue, shock absorbers (a slightly worn bush), peaks against other cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) on 2016–2018 cars (5.2% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Fiat Panda data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 92,850 tests of the Fiat Panda. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.