Fiat Punto (1996)

30,071 real MOT outcomes analysed • 64.3% first-time pass rate

1996 Fiat Punto

CarHunch analysed 30,071 real MOT records for the 1996 Fiat Punto. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 15.7% below UK average
64.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
78,266
typical mileage
63,981–92,917 middle half
19.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.18
avg MOT failures per car
over 5.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1996 Fiat Punto

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.
  • 📄 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 Punto

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 (96%) 28,744 64.3% 2.18
Diesel (4%) 1,326 63.9% 2.17
LPG (0%) 1 50% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Fiat Punto 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.

63,981
low mileage
78,266
typical
92,917
high mileage

Half of all 1996 Fiat Punto vehicles fall between 63,981 and 92,917 miles.

1996 Fiat Punto — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 61 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).

1,195 61 2014 2022

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.

MOT History Averages

5.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.18
Avg failures per vehicle
5.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1996 Fiat Punto

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

  • 42.8%
    Oil leak
  • 36.4%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 24.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 23.9%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 21.1%
    Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
  • 19.5%
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
  • 18.3%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
  • 18.2%
    Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Fiat Punto?

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

UK

Other model years — Fiat Punto:

1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018