2015 Fiat Panda — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 47,299 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Fiat Panda, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 82.9% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (84.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.2% in the 150k+ group versus 10.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 3,587 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 3,241 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,017 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,886 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.2% | 1,533 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 1,292 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 2,098 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,637 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,248 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,220 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,070 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,019 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.6% | 11,655 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.1% | 9,484 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.1% | 9,017 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 3,296 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,889 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 2,121 |
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 | 13,727 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 22,914 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,392 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,814 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 358 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 72 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 44,818 | 16.9% |
| Diesel | 2,475 | 20.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,280 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 9,336 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 9,494 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 9,484 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 9,705 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Panda
Before buying a 2015 Fiat Panda, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Fiat Pandas pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 47,299 2015 Fiat Panda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Fiat Panda?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2015 Panda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 47,299 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.