2016 Fiat Punto 1.2L Petrol · HJ66 WWG

This 2016 Fiat Punto presents a mixed mechanical picture, with the most recent test on 29 September 2025 illustrating the defining theme of its recent MOT history: a borderline-passing condition where minor and major defects are clustering rather than resolving. On that date the vehicle recorded both a Pass and a Fail, with the failure caused by an excessively damaged offside front steering linkage ball joint dust cover (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) that no longer prevents dirt ingress, alongside a minor for a defective offside front wiper blade. The recurring advisory for inoperative daytime running lamps, present at the 2024 and 2025 tests, suggests an unresolved electrical concern. Looking back further, a Major defect for an inoperative reversing lamp was flagged at the 2024 test, while that same year generated advisories for fluctuating front brake performance, thin nearside front brake pads, and a pitted or scored nearside front brake disc. Two years prior, both front tyres were recorded as worn close to the legal limit and on the edge, and the earlier tests in 2021, 2023, and 2019 returned clean passes with no advisories. The overall trajectory is therefore one of declining condition, with a cluster of brake, tyre, steering, and lamp defects appearing in the most recent two test cycles after several years of clean results. The recorded mileage of 96,552 against a ten-year age equates to roughly 9,655 miles annually, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a small supermini of this vintage. There are some notable gaps in the testing record, particularly the absence of any MOT entry for the vehicle in 2020 and the relatively long intervals between tests in 2021, 2022, and 2023, which could indicate periods of light use or the car being off the road. Mechanically, a Punto covering this mileage is approaching the stage where suspension joints, steering components, brake discs, and wheel bearings begin to show meaningful wear, and the recent appearance of brake disc scoring, pad wear, and a perished ball joint dust cover is consistent with a chassis that has now accumulated sufficient mileage for these items to demand attention. The fact that multiple front-end components were flagged in the same test suggests wear is no longer isolated to a single consumable. For a prospective buyer, the offside front steering linkage ball joint dust cover should be the immediate priority. With the protective boot no longer sealing out dirt, accelerated wear of the joint itself becomes likely, so the car should be inspected on a lift or with the wheel turned to full lock to check for play, a knocking or clunking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and any unevenness in the front tyres that might indicate the joint has already begun to foul against the wheel. The steering should also be checked for vagueness or a reluctance to self-centre, and a hoist inspection of the track rod end and the inner rack gaiters is worthwhile given that perished boots tend to appear in clusters on ageing Punto chassis. The braking system warrants an equally close look, given the 2024 advisories for fluctuating service brake effort and a scored nearside front disc. On a road test, the buyer should look for pedal judder under firm braking, any pulling to one side, and a grinding or grooved feeling through the pedal that would suggest the disc lip has grown or the surface is badly corroded. The pads should be inspected for remaining friction material, and the caliper slide pins and guide rails checked for binding, which is a common Punto issue and a likely explanation for uneven pad wear. Finally, the persistent daytime running lamp failure should be traced to its source rather than assumed to be a simple bulb, as recurring electrical advisories on this model can stem from body control module faults or wiring corrosion in the front light clusters, and a reversing light that was previously a Major defect should be confirmed functional before purchase.