Used car guide

2012 Fiat Punto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Fiat Puntos, from 5,655 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,655MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
6,100typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Fiat Puntos than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Exhaust system3× usual
    Fiat Punto
    16.6% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.5% of all 2012 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.

  • Coil springs2.1× usual
    Fiat Punto
    20.4% All 2012 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 4% of all 2012 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.

  • Individual direction indicators3.8× usual
    Fiat Punto
    11.5% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.2% of all 2012 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.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Fiat Punto
    14.2% All 2012 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Fiat Punto
    11.5% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Better than most

Ball joint: 1.6% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1.6% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Fiat Punto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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
    27% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Fiat Punto?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20171,236Tyres 31%
20161,680Suspension 36%
20152,444Suspension 39%
20143,562Suspension 46%
20134,164Suspension 48%
20115,131Suspension 50%
20105,349Suspension 55%
20091,546Suspension 52%
20084,417Suspension 52%
20076,756Suspension 56%
20064,366Suspension 57%
20051,233Suspension 52%
20041,550Suspension 56%
2003879Suspension 51%
2002569Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Fiat Puntos registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score