2012 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · CP62 MKO

The 2012 Fiat 500 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 22 July 2025 at 64,175 miles passed, but the tester flagged a corroded offside front shock absorber casing and a worn nearside front Macpherson strut top mount bush. Front brake pads were noted as wearing thin, and the rear axle spring mounting points showed corrosion. Comparing this to the clean pass on 28 July 2022 at 50,792 miles, the trend is clearly worsening. The vehicle has moved from zero advisories to multiple suspension and corrosion-related items in just three years, suggesting structural integrity is now a genuine concern despite the current valid certificate. The mileage profile tells an unusual story. Between 22 July 2025 and 22 July 2024, the car covered just 4,197 miles. That follows a similar pattern in prior years: 5,364 miles between July 2024 and July 2023, and 3,822 miles between July 2023 and July 2022. The annual average of roughly 4,584 miles is well below typical use for a 14-year-old vehicle. Such low accumulation often indicates extended periods stationary, which accelerates rubber perishing and corrosion. The tyre advisories across 2023 and 2024, all citing cracking and perishing rather than tread depth, support this. Rubber components degrade with age and disuse, not just mileage. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and underbody corrosion. The July 2025 advisory for a corroded shock absorber casing and worn strut bush points to potential damping deterioration and uneven tyre wear. The rear axle spring mounting corrosion flagged in the same test is more serious; spring mounting point corrosion can indicate broader structural weakness beneath the rear floor pan. Check both front lower arm rear bushes, which showed de-bonding in July 2024, and inspect all coil springs for the corrosion noted in 2021. The 2021 advisory for missing front and rear exhaust clamps also warrants a check that the full exhaust system remains securely mounted and free from gas leaks. Brake condition deserves attention beyond the thin pad advisory. The front discs should be measured for thickness and scoring, and both rear calipers tested for binding, a common issue on Fiat 500 rear drum-in-disc systems. The 2021 advisory for a slightly distorted nearside front wheel suggests possible kerb impact; have the wheel checked for cracks and the tracking verified. Finally, given the corrosion history, a thorough underbody inspection is essential. Surface rust on spring mounts can hide deeper pitting, and any MOT tester noting corrosion on structural points is a red flag that the car may not age gracefully without intervention.