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What to check: Fiat Panda

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Ranked across all years of the Fiat Panda, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 11.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

DampersRuns high on this modelLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 7.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 4.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 4.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 3.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 3.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

Handbrake holdRuns high on this modelStop on a hill and put the handbrake on. It should hold the car firmly within a few clicks, or straight away on the button if it is electronic. Roll-back means adjustment at best, new cables or a caliper motor at worst.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.0%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 22.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 16.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

On a 2014-era 1.2-litre petrol, pull away briskly from a dead stop in 1st and 2nd gear.Noticeable bogging or hesitation suggests the software fix for the EU6 clutch issue was never done.

On a 1.3 MultiJet diesel, check the service book for any work around the timing chain near 60k or 100k miles.No mention of it being checked at that mileage is worth flagging, chain failure on this engine is expensive.

Get the car on a ramp and inspect the rear twist beam and front wishbone bushes.Rust streaking on the beam or a soft, perished bush is the most common route to an MOT suspension failure on this model.

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock, then repeat while pulling away.Any sudden loss of steering assistance points to the EPAS fault reported on pre-2012 cars.

On a Dualogic automated-manual, select D from cold and watch how it takes up drive.Hesitation, clonking, or a refusal to select gear means the clutch actuator or gearbox electronics may be failing.

Ask for proof of the last oil change and what oil was used, especially on TwinAir engines.Wrong-spec oil is linked to faster clutch and engine wear on this engine, and you can't check it after the fact.

Read the full MOT history, not just the current pass.The same suspension advisory showing up year after year means it was noted but never actually fixed.

Full Fiat Panda reliability report