2003 Fiat Punto MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 56.7% of Fiat Puntos first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. Across 3,872 Punto first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, body, chassis and structure and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Fiat Puntos first used in 2003 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
56.7%
of 863 first tests; all cars first used in 2003: 58.7%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
3,872
first tests, 2023–2025; 863 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
17.4%
of 863 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
69,500
middle half: 52,500–91,500 miles; all cars first used in 2003: 103,000

How the 2003 Fiat Punto MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Puntos first used in 2003 against all cars first used in 2003 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Punto figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2003 PuntoAll cars first used in 2003
40%50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2003, test year 2021: 54%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2023: 56.7%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2024: 57.2%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2025: 58.7%2003 Punto, test year 2021: 46.6%2003 Punto, test year 2022: 50.5%2003 Punto, test year 2023: 51.6%2003 Punto, test year 2024: 53.4%2003 Punto, test year 2025: 56.7%58.7%56.7%
View this chart as a table
Test year2003 PuntoAll cars first used 2003Punto first tests
202146.6%54.0%3,476
202250.5%55.7%2,466
202351.6%56.7%1,752
202453.4%57.2%1,257
202556.7%58.7%863

Common 2003 Fiat Punto MOT failures

Share of the 1,808 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment48.5%
Body, chassis, structure36.3%
Suspension31.3%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems25.1%
Brakes22.7%
Visibility20.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks19.1%
Tyres12.8%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced18.5%335
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect15.4%279
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength12.8%231
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt11.7%211
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases11.2%202

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2003 Fiat Punto before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2003 Fiat Punto MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2003 Puntos, as a share of all 3,872 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Coil spring: corroded27.1%1,051
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive22.7%879
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.6%642
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing13.9%539
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.5%330

Questions about the 2003 Fiat Punto MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2003 Fiat Punto?

In 2025, 56.7% of Puntos first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2003 Punto most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 48.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), body, chassis and structure (36.3%) and suspension (31.3%). The single most common item was “Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced” (18.5%).

How often does a 2003 Fiat Punto fail its MOT?

In 2025, 43.3% of first tests on Puntos first used in 2003 did not pass first time: 35.5% failed, and a further 7.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,808 of 3,872 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2003 Fiat Punto MOT advisories?

“Coil spring: corroded” (on 27.1% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (22.7%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (16.6%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (13.9%) and “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.5%).

Is a 2003 Fiat Punto reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 46.6% in 2021 to 56.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2003

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2003 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2003 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2003 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2003 Fiat Punto MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2003 Punto” means a Fiat Punto whose date of first use falls in 2003 (52, 03 and 53 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2003, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.