2010 Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4L Petrol · CE60 KWN

The 2010 Alfa Romeo Mito currently holds no valid MOT, having failed its most recent test on 20 January 2026 at 91,920 miles. The maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The January 2026 failure list is the longest and most serious on record, featuring a fractured nearside front coil spring, excessive play in the offside front track rod end, a complete loss of recorded effort on the offside rear parking brake, and Lambda readings outside specified limits. Several of these defects, particularly the broken spring and the track rod end play, represent immediate structural and steering integrity risks that go well beyond routine wear items. The vehicle cannot legally be driven on the road until these failures are rectified and a fresh pass is obtained. The mileage profile tells a story of very light use that has recently accelerated. Between the January 2024 test at 80,183 miles and the January 2025 test at 86,790 miles, the car covered roughly 6,600 miles in twelve months. Yet in the twelve months between January 2025 and the January 2026 failure, it added only 5,128 miles, suggesting either a return to light use or a period of limited activity. The annual average of approximately 5,745 miles is low for a sixteen-year-old vehicle, which typically implies less drivetrain wear but can also point to prolonged standing, during which rubber bushes, brake components, and steel surfaces are prone to seizure and corrosion rather than the steady wear seen on higher-mileage examples. A buyer inspecting this Mito in person should focus on the front suspension and steering first. The fractured nearside front coil spring is a critical defect, and the offside front track rod end with excessive play indicates the front end has not been maintained to a high standard. Both front lower suspension arm rear bushes were flagged as excessively worn in January 2025, and the January 2024 advisories noted corrosion on the front sub-frame and both front suspension arms. These are not minor cosmetic issues; they point to a car that has spent time in damp conditions or has been left standing, allowing corrosion to compromise structural mounting points. The rear coil springs have been flagged as corroded in both the 2024 and 2026 tests, which is a recurring concern that warrants close inspection for fracture risk. The braking system also demands thorough checking. The January 2026 failure recorded no effort at the offside rear parking brake on a single-line system, which could indicate a seized caliper, a snapped cable, or a collapsed rear brake hose. Both rear brake discs were worn and pitted, and the nearside rear brake pads were wearing thin at the same test. The front brake discs have appeared as advisories in multiple consecutive tests, suggesting they have been running at or near the minimum thickness for some time. The exhaust system has a persistent minor leak at the front joint, flagged in both 2024 and 2025, and the Lambda readings in January 2026 indicate a combustion or catalytic converter efficiency issue that may require further diagnosis beyond a simple exhaust repair.