Used car guide

2008 Fiat Panda petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Fiat Panda first registered in 2008 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 11,750 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,750MOTs of 2008 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
55%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
4,400typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for coil springs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Fiat Panda petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Fiat Panda petrol than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Coil springs2× usual
    Fiat Panda
    22.4% All 2008 cars
    11.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 4.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Shock absorbers2.3× usual
    Fiat Panda
    17.1% All 2008 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Exhaust system1.8× usual
    Fiat Panda
    15.8% All 2008 cars
    8.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Individual direction indicators2.5× usual
    Fiat Panda
    7.8% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.9× usual
    Fiat Panda
    6.5% All 2008 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.4% here, against 9.3% of all 2008 cars. Number plate lights: 2.7% here, against 8.5% of all 2008 cars.

Common 2008 Fiat Panda petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Fiat Panda petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    56% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    28% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2008 Fiat Panda petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Fiat Panda petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2008 Fiat Panda petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2008 Fiat Panda petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2008 Fiat Panda petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Panda?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Fiat Panda compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022550Tyres 15%
20211,475Tyres 18%
20204,658Tyres 18%
20197,586Tyres 21%
20187,901Tyres 24%
201710,413Tyres 26%
201614,349Tyres 27%
201523,427Suspension 31%
201423,577Suspension 34%
201322,219Suspension 38%
201218,874Suspension 43%
201115,786Suspension 57%
201025,882Suspension 58%
200929,120Suspension 57%
200714,873Suspension 57%
200611,524Suspension 57%
20058,835Suspension 58%
20047,429Suspension 57%
2003215Suspension 58%
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993126Suspension 48%
1992146Lights and electrics 36%
1991112Suspension 34%
1990122Lights and electrics 33%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Fiat Panda cars first registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score