Its not just the 100HP models - mines a MJ and they failed. The shocks are only small though, they don't look very robust.
I also have the 'knocking' from the back that no-one seems to be able to track down. Its done it from brand new. Nothing's loose. If it were a different car I would say it was a worn swaybar droplink, but this doesn't apply on the Panda. Same sort of noise though.
I also had a sort out a few other little things on my Panda when it was new. In particular the air intake pipe (from front grille to air filter body) was not fitted properly at EITHER end. I managed to push the front end into place, but the cut-outs in the pipe which locate it at the back end were not properly formed at the factory and I had to trim them out with a craft knife to get the pipe to clip into place. Shows the rather sloppy assembly standards - and I doubt the dealer even lifted the bonnet at PDI.