Fiat Punto 2004: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2004 Fiat Punto include Prescribed areas (rear) (~6.0× peers) and Exhaust system (front) (~5.2× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (737 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 737 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Prescribed areas (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 6.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 35 failed first-attempt tests; 4.7% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 35 failures · ×6.0 vs similar cars · 4.7% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern
Exhaust system (front)
This failure pattern appears about 5.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 32 failed first-attempt tests; 4.3% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 32 failures · ×5.2 vs similar cars · 4.3% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern
No patterns met the strongest callout thresholds on this page; showing the highest-lift rows that still cleared the display floors.
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Prescribed areas (rear)
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Prescribed areas
|
Rear | 35 | ×6.0 | 4.7% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 2 |
Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Front | 32 | ×5.2 | 4.3% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 3 |
Integral vehicle structure condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Integral vehicle structure condition
|
Rear | 22 | ×2.9 | 3.0% | Possible elevated fault |
| 4 |
Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
|
Rear | 36 | ×2.8 | 4.9% | Possible elevated fault |
| 5 |
Component mounting prescribed areas (rear)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
|
Rear | 100 | ×2.8 | 13.6% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Emissions not tested
|
Any | 41 | ×2.7 | 5.6% | Possible elevated fault |
| 7 |
Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Rear | 44 | ×2.7 | 6.0% | Possible elevated fault |
| 8 |
Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
|
Rear | 25 | ×2.5 | 3.4% | Possible elevated fault |
| 9 |
SRS malfunction indicator lamp
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > SRS malfunction indicator lamp
|
Any | 51 | ×2.4 | 6.9% | Possible elevated fault |
| 10 |
Individual direction indicators (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Rear | 31 | ×2.1 | 4.2% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 35 | ×5.9 | 4.7% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Rear | 215 | ×3.8 | 29.2% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Sub-frame (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame
|
Front | 82 | ×3.8 | 11.1% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
|
Rear | 76 | ×3.5 | 10.3% | Possible elevated fault |
| 5 |
Integral vehicle structure condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Integral vehicle structure condition
|
Rear | 22 | ×2.6 | 3.0% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Coil spring
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Any | 22 | ×2.4 | 3.0% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Front | 26 | ×2.2 | 3.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.