Fiat Panda (2016)

4,895 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.4% first-time pass rate

2016 Fiat Panda

CarHunch analysed 4,895 real MOT records for the 2016 Fiat Panda. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2016 Fiat Panda passes its MOT slightly above the UK average at 84.4%, which is reassuring, but one in five of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuine concern for safety-conscious buyers. Petrol versions edge out diesels (84.5% vs 82.9% pass rate), though the difference is marginal.

These Pandas are running relatively light mileage for their age at a median of 28,277 miles, suggesting they've been used as second cars or city runabouts rather than motorway workhorses. The 9 advisories per vehicle flag that minor wear is common—suspension, lighting, and trim issues accumulate—but the low average of 1.47 failures per car means major faults are the exception rather than the rule. Before purchasing, budget for routine remedial work and request the MOT history to check for patterns of dangerous defects in the specific vehicle you're considering.

Average reliability 4.4% above UK average
84.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
28,277
typical mileage
18,963–40,224 middle half
22%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.47
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2016 Fiat Panda

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 22% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Fiat Panda

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (94%) 4,618 84.5% 1.46
Diesel (6%) 275 82.9% 1.64
Other (0%) 1 83.3% 1
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 1 70% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Fiat Panda vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

18,963
low mileage
28,277
typical
40,224
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Fiat Panda vehicles fall between 18,963 and 40,224 miles.

2016 Fiat Panda — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 4,649 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

4,751 4,649 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

8.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.47
Avg failures per vehicle
9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Fiat Panda

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 37.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 34.9%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 22.6%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 18.6%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 18%
    Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 17.5%
    Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 17.4%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 16.7%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Fiat Panda?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Fiat Panda:

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020