2009 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4L Petrol · CV59 YPL

The Fiat Grande Punto presents a stable and currently sound roadworthiness status, confirmed by a clean pass on 28 March 2026 at 78,632 miles with zero defects recorded. The maintenance trend over the past three years is clearly improving. A failed test on 1 October 2024 at 78,080 miles flagged a worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint and corrosion on both rear shock absorber casings, along with surface corrosion on the rear axle beam mounting area. The very next day, 2 October 2024, the car passed at 78,087 miles with only the shock absorber corrosion and axle beam corrosion remaining as advisories, meaning the anti-roll bar linkage was promptly replaced. By the March 2026 test, even those corrosion advisories had cleared, indicating either remedial work or that the corrosion was not deemed to have progressed to a failure threshold. This is a positive trajectory. The mileage pattern is notably low for a 2009 vehicle, averaging roughly 4,625 miles per year over seventeen years. Between the October 2023 test at 72,467 miles and the October 2024 test at 78,080 miles, the car covered approximately 5,613 miles in a single year, which is a significant spike compared to the long-term average. That same interval also saw the most concentrated cluster of defects. From October 2024 to March 2026, just 545 miles were added over roughly seventeen months, suggesting the vehicle has seen very light use or prolonged standing since its last test. Buyers should be aware that extended periods of inactivity can cause brake seizure, tyre flat-spotting, and fuel system issues, none of which are visible in the MOT record itself. The recurring theme across the history is suspension and corrosion-related wear. Both rear shock absorbers were flagged for external casing corrosion in the October 2024 tests, and the rear axle beam mounting area was noted as corroded at the same time. While these did not fail the vehicle, corrosion in structural suspension mounting points is a progressive concern, particularly on a car that may have been standing idle for long periods. A buyer should physically inspect the rear shock absorber casings for pitting or flaking, check the rear axle beam mounting area for structural integrity, and examine the condition of the nearside front anti-roll bar linkage that was replaced in October 2024 to confirm it remains serviceable. Tyre condition also warrants attention, given the offside rear tyre was flagged for cracking and perishing in October 2023, a defect consistent with age-related deterioration rather than wear, which may have affected other tyres on the same axle.