2003 Fiat Panda 1.2L Petrol · WP53 RKA

This 2003 Fiat Panda passed its most recent MOT in October 2025 with a significant list of structural and mechanical advisories, following a failure three days earlier for a weak parking brake and a worn suspension bush. The pattern here is clear: corrosion is the dominant concern, and it is worsening. The vehicle has been flagged for corroded coil springs on all four corners for two consecutive tests, and the rear sills and rear sub-frame are now noted as corroded. This is not a car that is improving; the corrosion is spreading and deepening. The low annual mileage of roughly 3,900 miles per year suggests the car may have been used for short, local trips or stood for periods, which can accelerate underbody rust due to less heat cycling and moisture retention. The mileage itself is not suspicious, but the corrosion pattern is consistent with a car that has not been regularly cleaned or undersealed. The most recent test also notes an oil leak (not excessive) and a severely deteriorated CV boot on the offside front driveshaft. The nearside front suspension arm bush was replaced after a failure in 2024, but the offside front bush was flagged as excessively worn on the 2025 failure, meaning the suspension is now a recurring issue on both sides. The brake efficiency problem was rectified for the pass, but the parking brake system has now been an issue twice in two years. A buyer should first inspect the rear sills and sub-frame for perforation or flaking rust, as these are structural areas that can fail an MOT if they become seriously weakened.