2012 Fiat Panda MOT pass rate: 71.4% (18,793 tests)
Is the 2012 Panda getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 72.6% +0.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 71.2% +0.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 70.2% -0.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Panda
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4,800 | 35.8% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2,142 | 16.0% |
| 3 | Tyres | 1,733 | 12.9% |
| 4 | Brakes | 1,612 | 12.0% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 950 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 863 | 6.4% |
All Panda years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7,358 | 56.4% | -8.0 pts | 77,136 |
| 2005 | 8,750 | 58.9% | -5.6 pts | 78,364 |
| 2006 | 11,426 | 58.7% | -5.7 pts | 78,242 |
| 2007 | 14,754 | 59.5% | -5.6 pts | 76,769 |
| 2008 | 13,920 | 60.5% | -4.6 pts | 74,508 |
| 2009 | 28,937 | 63.6% | -2.8 pts | 67,891 |
| 2010 | 25,730 | 63.6% | -3.7 pts | 66,458 |
| 2011 | 15,713 | 65.4% | -3.8 pts | 61,934 |
| 2012 (this page) | 18,793 | 71.4% | +0.2 pts | 58,263 |
| 2013 | 22,109 | 72.9% | -0.4 pts | 56,964 |
| 2014 | 23,483 | 75.6% | -0.2 pts | 52,026 |
| 2015 | 23,353 | 77.4% | -1.3 pts | 44,646 |
| 2016 | 14,299 | 80.5% | -0.8 pts | 36,786 |
| 2017 | 10,382 | 83.1% | -0.9 pts | 31,818 |
| 2018 | 7,876 | 85.6% | -0.7 pts | 25,911 |
| 2019 | 7,442 | 87.9% | -0.5 pts | 21,652 |
| 2020 | 4,173 | 91.7% | +1.8 pts | 17,178 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Fiat Panda years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Fiat Panda reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 71.4% of their MOT tests (18,793 tests, 2023–2025), +0.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 58,263 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Panda?
The median tested example shows 58,263 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.