Used car guide

2021 Fiat Panda: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Fiat Panda first registered in 2021: we looked at the 750 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

750MOTs of 2021 cars, done in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
4,900typical miles a year
9.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Fiat Panda?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Fiat Panda than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints9.1× usual
    Fiat Panda
    10% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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.

Common 2021 Fiat Panda MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Fiat Panda MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    20% 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
    14% 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
    9% 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
    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
    5% 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
    2% 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 2021 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 2021 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 suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 9.1× as often on the 2021 Fiat Panda as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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
2022539Tyres 15%
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%
20115,047Suspension 59%
20108,116Suspension 60%
20099,044Suspension 59%
20084,113Suspension 60%
20074,275Suspension 59%
20063,215Suspension 59%
20052,451Suspension 59%
20041,983Suspension 60%
2003–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
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 2025, counting the MOTs of Fiat Panda cars first registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score