2004 Fiat Punto MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 51.0% of Fiat Puntos first used in 2004 passed their MOT first time, against 57.8% for all cars first used in 2004. Across 6,711 Punto first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and body, chassis and structure.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Fiat Puntos first used in 2004 (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
51.0%
of 1,542 first tests; all cars first used in 2004: 57.8%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
6,711
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,542 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
14.5%
of 1,542 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
75,000
middle half: 56,000–96,500 miles; all cars first used in 2004: 103,500

How the 2004 Fiat Punto MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Puntos first used in 2004 against all cars first used in 2004 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Punto figure was 6.8 points lower.

2004 PuntoAll cars first used in 2004
40%50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2004, test year 2021: 53.9%All cars first used in 2004, test year 2022: 55.2%All cars first used in 2004, test year 2023: 56%All cars first used in 2004, test year 2024: 56.4%All cars first used in 2004, test year 2025: 57.8%2004 Punto, test year 2021: 47.9%2004 Punto, test year 2022: 49.6%2004 Punto, test year 2023: 50.8%2004 Punto, test year 2024: 51.7%2004 Punto, test year 2025: 51%57.8%51%
View this chart as a table
Test year2004 PuntoAll cars first used 2004Punto first tests
202147.9%53.9%5,788
202249.6%55.2%4,050
202350.8%56.0%2,962
202451.7%56.4%2,207
202551.0%57.8%1,542

Common 2004 Fiat Punto MOT failures

Share of the 3,280 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 equipment50.1%
Suspension35.9%
Body, chassis, structure29.6%
Brakes23.2%
Visibility21.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks21.3%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems15.1%
Tyres13.8%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect16.9%555
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength13.7%448
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively10.9%356
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases10.5%345
Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced7.7%254

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

What to check on a 2004 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. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. 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.

Common 2004 Fiat Punto MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2004 Puntos, as a share of all 6,711 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Coil spring: corroded27.8%1,864
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive22.1%1,483
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15.9%1,070
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing14.6%981
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened9.4%633

Questions about the 2004 Fiat Punto MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2004 Fiat Punto?

In 2025, 51.0% of Puntos first used in 2004 passed their MOT first time, against 57.8% for all cars first used in 2004. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2004 Punto most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 50.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (35.9%) and body, chassis and structure (29.6%). The single most common item was “Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect” (16.9%).

How often does a 2004 Fiat Punto fail its MOT?

In 2025, 49.0% of first tests on Puntos first used in 2004 did not pass first time: 41.5% failed, and a further 7.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,280 of 6,711 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2004 Fiat Punto MOT advisories?

“Coil spring: corroded” (on 27.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (22.1%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (15.9%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (14.6%) and “Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened” (9.4%).

Is a 2004 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 47.9% in 2021 to 51.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2004

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

2004 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2004 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2004 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2004 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics · 2004 Volkswagen Polo MOT statistics

How the 2004 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. “2004 Punto” means a Fiat Punto whose date of first use falls in 2004 (53, 04 and 54 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 2004, 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.