Used car guide

2019 Fiat Panda: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Fiat Panda first registered in 2019: we looked at the 7,586 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,586MOTs of 2019 cars, done in 2023–2025
84%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 85%)
4,400typical miles a year
7.4×the usual rate for coil springs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2019 Fiat Panda?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2019 Fiat Panda than on all cars registered in 2019.

  • Coil springs7.4× usual
    Fiat Panda
    3.7% All 2019 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 0.4% of all 2019 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Fiat Panda
    2.4% All 2019 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2019 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.

Better than most

Brake pads: 3.7% here, against 10.1% of all 2019 cars.

Common 2019 Fiat Panda MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2019 Fiat Panda MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    21% 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
    14% 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.

  • Suspension
    9% 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
    6% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    1% 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.

Known faults on the 2019 Fiat Panda

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 2019 Fiat Panda

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

  1. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 7.4× as often on the 2019 Fiat Panda as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2019 Fiat Panda as on other cars the same age.)
  3. 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%
20187,901Tyres 24%
201710,413Tyres 26%
201614,349Tyres 27%
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 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score