Used car guide

2008 Fiat Panda: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Fiat Pandas, from 4,113 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,113MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
4,500typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Fiat Pandas than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Coil springs2× usual
    Fiat Panda
    24.6% All 2008 cars
    12.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 3.9% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Shock absorbers2.2× usual
    Fiat Panda
    17.2% All 2008 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Exhaust system1.6× usual
    Fiat Panda
    14.7% All 2008 cars
    9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Individual direction indicators2.6× usual
    Fiat Panda
    8.2% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.9× usual
    Fiat Panda
    7.6% All 2008 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1.9% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.7% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Number plate lights: 3% here, against 8.9% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Fiat Panda MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    60% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Fiat Panda?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022539Tyres 15%
2021750Tyres 20%
20201,581Tyres 24%
20192,552Tyres 24%
20182,666Tyres 28%
20173,492Tyres 29%
20164,794Tyres 29%
20157,857Suspension 36%
20147,856Suspension 38%
20137,299Suspension 43%
20126,167Suspension 46%
20115,046Suspension 59%
20108,116Suspension 60%
20099,043Suspension 59%
20074,274Suspension 59%
20063,215Suspension 59%
20052,451Suspension 59%
20041,983Suspension 60%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Fiat Pandas registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score