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FIAT PANDA Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 5,881 MOT tests from 403 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every FIAT PANDA has the same fault.

FIAT PANDA's have a very good reliability rating of 601/999. The score was calculated from the average of every FIAT PANDA that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the FIAT PANDA.

FIAT PANDA side viewFIAT PANDA (example)

Check the reliability of your Fiat Panda

Enter your registration to see the MOT history for this car.

Fiat Panda side view
  • Service history

    Dealer & service records

  • MOT records

    Past & current MOT data

  • Write-off check

    Check for insurance write-offs

  • Finance check

    Outstanding finance & theft checks

Fuel TypeYearReliability ScoreAvg MileageSample Size
Petrol2019852/999Excellent100,773 miles1,630 vehicles
Petrol2016760/999Very good101,297 miles2,209 vehicles
Petrol2015717/999Very good99,194 miles3,872 vehicles
Diesel2014564/999Above average74,778 miles546 vehicles
Petrol2014669/999Good73,003 miles4,820 vehicles
Petrol2013634/999Good73,956 miles5,573 vehicles
Petrol2012594/999Above average71,302 miles5,567 vehicles
Petrol2009414/999Average91,447 miles3,336 vehicles
Petrol2007408/999Average91,203 miles3,128 vehicles
Petrol2004397/999Fair86,437 miles2,064 vehicles

How reliable is the FIAT PANDA?

Based on 5,881 MOT tests from 403 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

403

MOT tests

5,881

Pass rate

76.3%

Median mileage

68,214 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every FIAT PANDA has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 630 out of 999.

Common FIAT PANDA MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 1,075 advisory comments and 239 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 370 advisory comments and 31 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR COIL SPRING CORRODED (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 162 advisory comments and 95 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR UPPER SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS A SLIGHTLY WORN BUSH (5.3.2 (C))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 138 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 122 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Suspension arm issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 83 advisory comments and 30 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn, corroded, or damaged suspension arm or its pin.

What to inspect

Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM PIN OR BUSH WORN BUT NOT RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 65 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

Lamp and bulb faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 58 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lamp or bulb other than a headlamp or indicator.

What to inspect

Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING (4.2.1 (A) (II))

FIAT PANDA MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

YearVehiclesMOT testsPass rateRecurring issues seen
202172781.5%Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
202062692.3%Tyre wear
2019126789.6%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2018139281.5%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
20171714386.7%Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
20162323277.2%Corrosion, Brake disc wear
20153539277%Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
20143441378.2%Brake disc wear, Tyre wear
20134053879%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
20124061076.6%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
20111829676.7%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
20103361873%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
20093772573.1%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
20082143775.5%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
20072346676.8%Tyre wear, Corrosion
20061635074%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2005920872.6%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues

What to check when buying a used FIAT PANDA

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

  • Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

  • Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

  • Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

  • Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

  • Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

  • Suspension arm issues. Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.

  • Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

  • Lamp and bulb faults. Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Buying a FIAT PANDA?

Common problems tell you what can affect FIAT PANDAs generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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