Does the Fiat Punto fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Fiat Punto records 3.86 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.72 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.14, 95% interval +2.09 to +2.20). It ranks 52 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Fiat Punto by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Fiat Punto is “The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired”, recorded 12,461 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 12,461 | 2.22 |
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 5,298 | 0.94 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 1,743 | 0.31 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 709 | 0.13 |
| Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended | 422 | 0.08 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 561,621 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Fiat Punto gets a seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.0% of Fiat Punto MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 2,866 miles later (5,367 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,367 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Fiat Punto 1998 · Fiat Punto 1999 · Fiat Punto 2000 · Fiat Punto 2001 · Fiat Punto 2002 · Fiat Punto 2003 · Fiat Punto 2004 · Fiat Punto 2005 · Fiat Punto 2006 · Fiat Punto 2007 · Fiat Punto 2008 · Fiat Punto 2009 · Fiat Punto 2010 · Fiat Punto 2011 · Fiat Punto 2012 · Fiat Punto 2013 · Fiat Punto 2014 · Fiat Punto 2015 · Fiat Punto 2016 · Fiat Punto 2017 · Fiat Punto 2018 · Fiat Punto in Finland · Fiat Punto in the Netherlands · Fiat Punto by postcode area · Fiat Punto body, chassis and structure failures · Fiat Punto brakes failures · Fiat Punto vehicle identification failures · Fiat Punto lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Fiat Punto noise, emissions and leaks failures · Fiat Punto road wheels failures · Fiat Punto steering failures · Fiat Punto suspension failures · Fiat Punto tyres failures · Fiat Punto visibility failures