Used car guide

2016 Fiat Panda petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Fiat Panda first registered in 2016 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 13,544 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,544MOTs of 2016 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
75%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 77%)
4,600typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2016 Fiat Panda petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2016 Fiat Panda petrol than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Shock absorbers3.2× usual
    Fiat Panda
    11.8% All 2016 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 0.8% of all 2016 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Fiat Panda
    10.7% All 2016 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.9% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Exhaust system4.2× usual
    Fiat Panda
    7.1% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.4% 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.

  • Handbrake cables23× usual
    Fiat Panda
    2.3% All 2016 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Engine oil leaks2.1× usual
    Fiat Panda
    4.1% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2016 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.

Better than most

Brake pads: 4.9% here, against 10.5% of all 2016 cars.

Common 2016 Fiat Panda petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Suspension
    25% 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.

  • Brakes
    20% 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
    13% 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
    7% 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 an engine warning light.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Known faults on the 2016 Fiat Panda petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Fiat Panda petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the 2016 Fiat Panda petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2016 Fiat Panda petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the 2016 Fiat Panda petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Panda?

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

Other years

Every year of the Fiat Panda compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022550Tyres 15%
20211,475Tyres 18%
20204,658Tyres 18%
20197,586Tyres 21%
20187,901Tyres 24%
201710,413Tyres 26%
201523,427Suspension 31%
201423,577Suspension 34%
201322,219Suspension 38%
201218,874Suspension 43%
201115,786Suspension 57%
201025,882Suspension 58%
200929,120Suspension 57%
200814,021Suspension 57%
200714,873Suspension 57%
200611,524Suspension 57%
20058,835Suspension 58%
20047,429Suspension 57%
2003215Suspension 58%
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993126Suspension 48%
1992146Lights and electrics 36%
1991112Suspension 34%
1990122Lights and electrics 33%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Fiat Panda cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score