Used car guide · 1985–2026

Fiat Panda common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Fiat Panda, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 263,242 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

263,242MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
88,547on the UK register
6known faults across all years
2020best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2026202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200319951994199319921991199019891988198719861985

What usually goes wrong with a Fiat Panda?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Noisy clutch or gearbox

    Cars registered 2012–2024 · Manual gearbox

    Some cars have a loud noise from the clutch or gearbox, put down to a faulty clutch.

    At the viewing: Listen with the clutch up and down at idle, and pulling away.

    Source: Auto Express: used Fiat Panda (Mk3, 2012 on) review

  • High oil use (MultiJet diesel)

    Cars registered 2004–2011 · 1.3 MultiJet diesel

    Some MultiJet diesel owners report very high fuel and oil consumption.

    At the viewing: Check the dipstick and ask how often it needs oil.

    Source: What Car?: used Fiat Panda (2004-2012) reliability

  • Hesitant pulling away (1.2 petrol)

    Cars registered 2012–2024 · 1.2 petrol

    The Euro 6 1.2 petrol can feel short of power pulling away. A software update fixes it.

    At the viewing: Pull away from a standstill a few times.

    Source: Auto Express: used Fiat Panda (Mk3, 2012 on) review

  • Boot lock failing

    Cars registered 2012–2024 · All engines

    The electric boot lock sometimes stops working and has to be replaced.

    At the viewing: Open the boot several times.

    Source: Auto Express: used Fiat Panda (Mk3, 2012 on) review

  • Dashboard rattle

    Cars registered 2012–2024 · All engines

    Loose dashboard brackets rattle, usually on the passenger side.

    At the viewing: Listen on a rough road.

    Source: Auto Express: used Fiat Panda (Mk3, 2012 on) review

  • Clutch judder and jammed tailgate

    Cars registered 2004–2011 · All engines

    A few cars have clutch judder, and some tailgate releases jam.

    At the viewing: Pull away gently and try the tailgate.

    Source: What Car?: used Fiat Panda (2004-2012) reliability

Common Fiat Panda MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Coil springs

    up to 7.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019.

    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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 10× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    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.

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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 leaks

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

Fiat Panda MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2020 Fiat Panda did best (89% passed first time, 2 points above all 2020 cars) and the 2005 did worst (53%, 4 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202290%89% +1552
202187%87% +01,490
202089%87% +24,660
201984%85% -17,586
201881%83% -27,901
201778%80% -210,413
201675%77% -214,349
201572%74% -223,427
201470%70% +023,577
201367%67% +022,219
201266%64% +218,874
201160%62% -215,786
201058%60% -225,882
200958%59% -129,120
200854%57% -314,021
200754%57% -314,873
200653%56% -311,524
200553%57% -48,835
200450%57% -77,432
200352%57% -5215 (small sample)
199354%68% -14126 (small sample)
199258%69% -11146 (small sample)
199159%71% -12112 (small sample)
199058%72% -14122 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 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 shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the Fiat Panda as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 7.4× as often on the Fiat Panda as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Fiat Panda 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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score