2018 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · AJ18 HNP

Front-end wear items dominate the recent history of this 2018 Fiat 500, with braking components and a front tyre emerging as the recurring themes across the last two test cycles. The car passed its latest examination on 29 July 2026, but not without an advisory for the offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on its inner edge, with the cords close to being exposed. That inner-edge wear pattern is significant: it typically points to incorrect wheel alignment or worn suspension geometry rather than simple mileage-related tread loss, and it follows a 2025 test in which both front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin and both front brake discs were recorded as worn, pitted or scored. The car also failed twice within this period, once in August 2025 for an incorrectly aimed offside headlamp (rectified the same day with a pass) and once in June 2023 for parking brake efficiency below requirements, also passed on retest the same day. Prior to 2025 the record was entirely clean, with passes and no advisories in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, so the overall picture is of a vehicle that tested faultlessly for years but has begun accumulating front-end wear items as it ages. Recorded mileage stands at 72,095 miles over roughly eight years, an average of about 9,000 miles per year, which is typical for a car of this age and consistent with regular mixed use rather than prolonged standing. The annual test rhythm has been steady with no gaps in the record, and the mileage accumulation appears even, so there is no evidence of lay-up-related deterioration such as seized brakes or perished components. That said, the wear now appearing on the front brakes and the uneven tyre wear are consistent with a car of this mileage that is consuming its original or first-replacement front braking hardware, and the inner-edge tyre wear suggests the suspension or alignment has not been attended to recently. A prospective buyer should treat the front axle as the priority inspection area. The 2025 advisories on both front brake pads and discs mean those components were already approaching the end of their service life a year before the latest test; if they have not been replaced since, expect them to be due imminently. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or squealing under braking and feel for judder or pulsing through the pedal or steering wheel, which would indicate the scored discs have deteriorated further. Check whether the offside front tyre flagged in July 2026 has been replaced; if the same tyre remains, it is at or beyond the legal limit and the car should not be purchased without it being changed. The inner-edge tyre wear warrants particular attention because replacing the tyre alone will not cure the underlying cause. Ask for evidence of a four-wheel alignment check, and on the test drive assess whether the car tracks straight on a level road without steering input, whether the steering wheel sits centred, and whether the car pulls to one side under braking. Listen for knocks or clonks from the front suspension over bumps, which could indicate worn bushes, drop links or ball joints contributing to the geometry issue. Finally, given the 2023 parking brake failure, verify the handbrake holds firmly on an incline and releases cleanly, and confirm the headlamp aim fault from 2025 has not recurred by checking both beams are even against a wall. None of these issues is unusual for a small car of this age and mileage, but they should be resolved or reflected in the price before purchase.