Generations on file · 3

Fiat Punto · UK market

Photos: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA / CC BY / public domain.

The picture

65% pass rate: the lowest in this batch

65.61% first-time pass across 90,259 tests is the weakest figure in this group, and the Punto averages 78,361 miles when it arrives at the MOT centre. Fractured springs lead the failure list, followed by headlamp reflector and lens condition, and inoperative lamps — a combination that reflects both age and the difficulty of sourcing quality parts for a car that's been out of production for years. Owner reports add to the picture: the Dualogic automated manual has proved difficult to resolve across multiple Fiat dealers and independents on at least one documented case. The 1.4 MultiAir timing belt failure at 45,000 miles on a car with a full specialist service history is a harder concern. At this pass rate, pre-purchase inspection should include springs, lighting condition, and timing belt replacement history as a minimum.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 4–12

A low-group car — among the cheapest to insure in the UK. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

4–12

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

3,977 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
02

A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

3,451 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
03

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3,312 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
04

Exhaust system leaking or insecure

3,157 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
05

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

2,935 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
06

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

2,887 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
07

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

2,696 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
08

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

2,521 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
09

Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2,468 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
10

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

2,398 occurrences · 2.2% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£138–£395

If every one of this Punto's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Hycote

Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Fiat Broom Yellow 12.5ml

£6.59

View at My Motor World →

Hycote

Hycote Fiat Capri Blue Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml

£6.59

View at My Motor World →

Hycote

Hycote Fiat Black Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml

£6.59

View at My Motor World →

Hycote

Hycote Fiat Red Orange Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml

£6.59

View at My Motor World →

Click Mechanic · affiliate

Book a mobile mechanic

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Mobile mechanic · UK-wide

Book a mechanic at your door.

Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.

Get a quote →

Owner reports · Honest John

What owners actually report.

Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.

Where it falls short

Owner reports (5 entries) flag recurring problems with timing chain, electrical faults.

Recent owner-reported faults

18 Mar 2019
Crurious case of 2010 FIAT Punto Evo GP 1.4 8v with 60k on the clock. The car is well maintained, but at 70mph the engine is noticeably louder (roaring) than at 60 and then it's quieter again even at 80. Friday: IRS Forgives Millions in Tax Debt After 4/15 Deadline Thousands of Americans who missed the April 15 deadline are rushing to resolve their tax debts before the IRS imposes hefty penalties.Fresh Start Information Learn More Top 5 Mouse Repellents for 2026 Expert Product Review Learn More Ask a Pro: "I'm 65 With $1.1M Saved. What's My Retirement Budget?"This quiz matches nearly 50,000 people each month with vetted financial advisors.SmartAsset Learn More Restaurants In North Charleston With Good Senior Discounts TheConsumerGuide Learn More Why AI Brings Speech Clarity That Old Hearing Aids Just Can’t Match Understand speech in noise effortlessly AudioNova Is Your Fridge Growing This? The Mistake Ruining Your Food!Consumer Check Sponsored North Charleston: AudioNova is giving free 30-minute hearing checks complete this short quiz to schedule your free hearing test AudioNova [![Image 31: Find Senior Women Who Bring The Spark [See Who's Online]](https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6IjIwN2QxY2ZhOGRlODY3YzNmZjc0N2Y0NDgxODc0MzJiMGE4MDEzODg0ZTZiMDIwY2MzZWQyYWNmMjViMDRjZTEiLCJ3Ijo0MDAsImgiOjMwMCwiZCI6MS4wLCJjaCI6MjAzNzE1NzAwNSwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp)Sponsored Find Senior Women Who Bring The Spark [See Who's Online] Read more It all starts with a message.amorelation.com](https://amorelation.com/land/sp/17f2ebbb?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=ua&utm_campaign=OBN_Amorelation_USA_All_Native_EU2_NewU_aOBX25_WL-exclude2_Creo-t_Text-t_mua_20Apr&campaign_id=004aea76c4e6e4694169bd0cc89a5ab731&utm_content=Find+Senior+Women+Who+Bring+The+Spark+%5BSee+Who%27s+Online%5D&partner=outbrain_datingsmatch&OutbrainClickId={{ob_click_id}}&subid={{ob_click_id}}&ad_id=00cb476e93938ef6545123d4a0ca2f0577&publisher_name={{publisher_name}}&section_name={{section_name}}&publisher_id={{publisher_id}}&ad_name={{ad_name}}&obOrigUrl=true) Sponsored Cardiologist: "Avoid Bottled Water At All Costs For Your Waistline"Most Americans don't know this yet.Water Health Experts Learn More Sponsored Sleep Experts: Why Melatonin Can Make Your Sleep Problems Worse!Health Report Sponsored Top 5 Binoculars for 2026 Expert Product Review Learn More * Terms and Conditions * Privacy * Cookies * Advertise on this site * Contact * Mobile) Website of the Year 2016, 2017 & 2018
22 Oct 2018
Report of repeated problems with FIAT Punto 1.4 Dualogic automated manual that FIAT dealer and numerous independent garages have been unable to resolve.
6 Oct 2017
Timing belt failed on 2013 FIAT Uno 1.4 MultiAir at 45,000 miles. Repair bill was £1,290 including fresh timing belt. Serviced by FIAT until warranty expired, then by local independent FIAT specialist.
7 Nov 2016
Report of dash warning: 'Start Stop / Airbags Not Available' when starting ignition. Local garage says machine cannot identify the fault. Needs OBDII interrogation by kit compatible with FIAT ECU.
27 Mar 2015
Reader reports that an official fix for the 1,242cc EU6 engine problem in FIAT Pandas 500s and Punto 1.2 Pop models has finally reached dealers from FIAT.

Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 5 reports indexed

Buying or keeping a Punto?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Punto and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.