Small car · 2006–2021 cars
Fiat Grande Punto reliability
The Fiat Grande Punto fails 45% of first MOT tests, 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 38,131 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Fiat Grande Punto before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 45%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 15% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 38,131
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Fiat Grande Punto ages
Each point is the share of Fiat Grande Puntos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Fiat Grande Punto | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 42.5% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 44% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 44.3% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 45.6% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 45.9% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 46.9% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 50.2% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Fiat Grande Punto years
2007 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 399 | 41.6% | 18% more fails | 76,791 |
| 2010 Grande Punto | 6,818 | 44% | 20% more fails | 78,937 |
| 2009 Grande Punto | 22,024 | 44.8% | 14% more fails | 83,147 |
| 2008 Grande Punto | 7,025 | 46.1% | 11% more fails | 89,371 |
| 2007 Grande Punto | 1,483 | 45.4% | 9% more fails | 88,288 |
| 2006 | 315 | 50.5% | 21% more fails | 87,996 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Fiat Grande Punto
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 120% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics23.3%32% above avg
- Suspension16.7%11% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks11%120% above avg
- Brakes8.5%12% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure8.4%45% above avg
- Tyres8%12% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.2%16% above avg
- Steering3.1%7% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.4%1% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 5.91% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.61% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 4.37% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Lambda reading outside specified limits 4.37% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 5
Exhaust has major gas leak 4.04% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.3% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 7
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.17% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 8
Shock absorber serious fluid leak 3.08% of tests
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Fiat Grande Punto's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit17.14%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion16.87%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive11.73%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking11.31%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak9.11%
- Brake disc pitted or scored7.53%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Fiat Grande Punto
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Fiat Grande Punto covers about 6,500 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol92.9%
- Diesel7.1%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Blue, Grey, Black, White, Red
Average engine size: 1.4 litres.
Compare
How the Fiat Grande Punto compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat Grande Punto | 45% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Suzuki Wagon-R+ | 44.6% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Tigra | 48.1% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Modus | 49.6% | 32% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Dacia Logan | 28.7% | 35% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 50.6% | 51% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Zoe | 26.5% | 76% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Fiat models.
Questions
Fiat Grande Punto questions, answered
Is the Fiat Grande Punto reliable?
On MOT results, the Fiat Grande Punto is below average: it fails 45% of first MOT tests, 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 24 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Fiat Grande Punto MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Fiat Grande Punto are position lamp not working (5.91% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (4.61% of tests), stop lamp not working (4.37% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 23.3% of its tests.
Which Fiat Grande Punto year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (9% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2010 cars do worst (20% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Fiat Grande Punto do a year?
A typical Fiat Grande Punto covers about 6,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Fiat Grande Punto before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
Found a Fiat Grande Punto? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.