MOT fail rates by first-use year
2005 Fiat Punto MOT fail rate and common faults
How Fiat Punto cars first used in 2005 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 7,982 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 20 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 20 years old, Fiat Punto cars first used in 2005 failed 44.3% of MOTs (1,233 tests), 1.5 points above the 42.8% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 17 to 20 years old, the fail rate moved from 47.6% to 44.3%.
- Fiat Punto cars first used a year earlier, in 2004, failed 47.8% at the same age of 20 years (2,230 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Fiat Punto at 20 years, is component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, at 6.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.9).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17 years | 47.6% | 2,881 | 43.1% | +4.5 pts |
| 2023 | 18 years | 45.0% | 2,203 | 43.3% | +1.7 pts |
| 2024 | 19 years | 45.7% | 1,665 | 43.2% | +2.5 pts |
| 2025 | 20 years | 44.3% | 1,233 | 42.8% | +1.5 pts |
Most common faults at 20 years
These figures cover all Fiat Punto MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,664). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 7.6 | 4.0 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 6.2 | 2.9 |
| Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced | 5.7 | 1.0 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 5.3 | 3.4 |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | 5.0 | 2.2 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 3.4 | 5.2 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.3 | 2.6 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 3.2 | 1.5 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 2.8 | 2.2 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=6,664). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: corroded | 24.9 | 8.0 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 21.5 | 14.1 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 15.5 | 15.7 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 14.3 | 10.2 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | 9.1 | 5.4 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 8.5 | 10.7 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 7.6 | 4.8 |
| Headlamp: lens slightly defective Wear | 6.6 | 4.1 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 6.3 | 7.7 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 5.8 | 3.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=6,664). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 20 years
These figures cover all Fiat Punto MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,664). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 97.2% | 46.9% | 6,480 | 42.5% | 72,716 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 20 years
These figures cover all Fiat Punto MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,664). At 20 years, Fiat Punto cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (52.2%, n=1,392) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (40.8%, n=1,871). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 40.8% | 1,871 | 33.4% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 49.3% | 2,503 | 41.3% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 52.2% | 1,392 | 45.5% |
Car tax rules for a 2005 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2005 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Fiat Punto
Other Fiat models first used in 2005
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat Ducato (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 33.9% | 4,629 | 42.8% |
| Fiat Panda (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 46.0% | 2,464 | 42.8% |
More on the Fiat Punto
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2005 Fiat Punto cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.