Diesel Fiat Panda: MOT pass rate

64.4% of diesel Fiat Pandas pass the MOT first time, measured across 5,706 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 80,857.

Diesel against the other Fiat Panda versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Fiat Panda specifically, petrol is the strongest at 70.1%, and this diesel version sits 5.3 points below the 69.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Fiat Panda fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Fiat Panda had covered 80,857 miles at test, against 61,476 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Fiat Panda page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Fiat Panda

1. A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 3.6% of tests (18.45x the national rate for this defect)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.8% of tests (4.03x the national rate for this defect)
3. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 4.8% of tests (3.69x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.5% of tests (3.15x the national rate for this defect)
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.8% of tests (2.92x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 13.8% of tests (2.74x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 5.3% of tests (2.33x the national rate for this defect)
8. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 5.8% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.1% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)

From 5,727 DVSA-tracked diesel Fiat Panda tests, 2024, split out from the Fiat Panda's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.23% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Fiat Panda

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 7.2% of tests (15.13x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 21% of tests (4.44x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 4.4% of tests (3.44x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.3% of tests (2.42x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 27% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 11% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 21.8% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.1% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 6.6% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect), also fails
10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)

From 5,727 DVSA-tracked diesel Fiat Panda tests, 2024.

Other Fiat Panda fuel types

• Petrol Fiat Panda - 70.1%

All Fiat Panda MOT data · Every model