Used car guide

2016 Fiat Punto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Fiat Puntos, from 1,680 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,680MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
5,600typical miles a year
6.7×the usual rate for track rod ends

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Fiat Puntos than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Track rod ends6.7× usual
    Fiat Punto
    20.7% All 2016 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 1.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

  • Sidelights5.9× usual
    Fiat Punto
    8.3% All 2016 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Exhaust system4.4× usual
    Fiat Punto
    8.8% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.5% of all 2016 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 springs2.6× usual
    Fiat Punto
    10.6% All 2016 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 2.5% of all 2016 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.

  • Brake lights4.3× usual
    Fiat Punto
    7.7% All 2016 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 1.4% of all 2016 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.3% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.9% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Fiat Punto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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
    33% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    22% 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
    10% 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
    7% 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 Punto?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20171,236Tyres 31%
20152,444Suspension 39%
20143,562Suspension 46%
20134,164Suspension 48%
20125,655Suspension 47%
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 2016 Fiat Puntos registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score