2004 Fiat Panda — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,304 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Fiat Panda, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 68.2% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (69.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 39.3% in the 150k+ group versus 20.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.7% | 3,393 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 2,676 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 2,605 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 1,563 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.3% | 1,475 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 1,317 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 1,411 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,368 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,184 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,098 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 1,073 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,048 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.1% | 8,746 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.6% | 6,211 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 4,580 |
| 4 | Brakes | 20.4% | 4,135 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 3,010 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.7% | 2,577 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 769 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,949 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 7,736 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,856 | 36.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,561 | 38.5% |
| 150k+ | 415 | 39.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,443 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 4,732 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 4,052 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 3,396 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 2,681 | 32.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Panda
Before buying a 2004 Fiat Panda, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Fiat Pandas pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 20,304 2004 Fiat Panda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Panda?
Suspension, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (13.2%).
Does the 2004 Panda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 0-30k band to 39.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,304 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.