2004 Fiat Punto MOT pass rate: 59.0% (6,646 tests)
Is the 2004 Punto getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59.0% -4.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 59.5% -4.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 58.5% -6.7 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 2004 Punto
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2,582 | 25.5% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,963 | 19.4% |
| 3 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,353 | 13.4% |
| 4 | Brakes | 1,166 | 11.5% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 896 | 8.8% |
| 6 | Visibility | 704 | 6.9% |
All Punto years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2,324 | 60.9% | -4.7 pts | 67,584 |
| 2003 | 3,836 | 59.9% | -5.1 pts | 70,848 |
| 2004 (this page) | 6,646 | 59.0% | -5.2 pts | 76,664 |
| 2005 | 4,985 | 62.2% | -2.3 pts | 75,342 |
| 2006 | 18,312 | 60.2% | -4.2 pts | 86,867 |
| 2007 | 26,791 | 59.7% | -5.4 pts | 87,561 |
| 2008 | 16,820 | 61.5% | -3.6 pts | 88,241 |
| 2009 | 5,600 | 64.9% | -1.5 pts | 82,011 |
| 2010 | 14,442 | 64.7% | -2.6 pts | 86,134 |
| 2011 | 12,764 | 65.6% | -3.6 pts | 81,906 |
| 2012 | 17,343 | 66.6% | -4.7 pts | 73,836 |
| 2013 | 12,979 | 65.0% | -8.3 pts | 69,084 |
| 2014 | 10,839 | 66.0% | -9.9 pts | 63,064 |
| 2015 | 7,331 | 72.7% | -6.0 pts | 54,723 |
| 2016 | 5,025 | 76.8% | -4.5 pts | 44,972 |
| 2017 | 3,697 | 78.4% | -5.6 pts | 37,623 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Fiat Punto years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Fiat Punto reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 59.0% of their MOT tests (6,646 tests, 2023–2025), -5.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 76,664 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Punto?
The median tested example shows 76,664 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.