2008 FIAT GRAND PUNTO1.4L PETROL

The vehicle presents a history of recurring mechanical issues primarily affecting the suspension and drivetrain. In the most recent test in April 2026 at 66,462 miles, the car failed due to excessive play in the offside track rod end and a minor exhaust leak. This follows a failure in February 2025 at 60,555 miles, where the tester flagged slight play in the nearside anti-roll bar linkage. The persistence of suspensionrelated faults suggests that while components are being replaced upon failure, there is an ongoing trend of reactive maintenance rather than preventative part replacement. At 66,462 miles over 18 years, the vehicle has averaged approximately 3,692 miles per year, which is significantly below the national average. While low mileage often correlates with less wear on brakes and tyres, the record indicates age-related degradation. Specifically, in the February 2023 test at 53,121 miles, the tester noted a corroded nearside rear coil spring. The mention of corrosion to rear suspension components in the 2026 failure confirms that structural integrity in these areas is subject to environmental wear common for a car of this age and mileage. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the entire undercarriage and exhaust system. Given the recent failures involving track rod ends and anti-roll bar links, a thorough check of all ball joints and rubber bushes is necessary to ensure no other components are nearing failure. The minor exhaust leak noted in April 2026 requires verification to ensure the manifold or pipework is not suffering from advanced corrosion, which could lead to an emissions failure in future tests.