2009 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · EF09 EWH

The 2009 FIAT 500 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 7 February 2026 at 94,469 miles, passed but flagged four advisories, indicating a shift from the clean bill of health seen in February 2024. Both front Macpherson strut top mount bushes are worn, and both rear tyres are worn to 3mm, sitting right on the legal limit. While none of these defects are immediate failures, the trend is gently worsening. The car has moved from a zero-defect pass in 2024 to multiple advisories in 2026, suggesting routine suspension and tyre upkeep may have slipped recently. The mileage pattern tells an unusual story. Between 27 February 2024 at 73,699 miles and 5 March 2025 at 80,285 miles, the car covered 6,586 miles in just over a year. Yet between 5 March 2025 and 7 February 2026, a span of nearly eleven months, it added 14,184 miles. That sudden spike from roughly 6,000 miles annually to over 14,000 miles in under a year implies a change of ownership or a shift from light local use to heavier commuting. The overall average of 5,557 miles per year across seventeen years is low, but the recent surge means drivetrain and braking components have seen disproportionate wear in a short window. Buyers should focus their physical inspection on the front suspension. The repeated advisory for worn strut top mount bushes on both sides in the February 2026 test points to degraded damping and potential knocking over rough surfaces. Check for uneven tyre wear on the front axle, which would confirm alignment issues tied to that worn bush. The rear coil spring corrosion noted in the March 2025 tests is a concern specific to this generation of Fiat 500, where rear springs are prone to surface rust that can progress to cracking. Have a garage inspect both rear springs closely for any signs of fracture or severe pitting. The exhaust flexi joint leak flagged in March 2025 may have been repaired before the February 2026 pass, but listen for blowing noises at the front flexi section under load. The rear tyres at 3mm in February 2026 are essentially at replacement age, so budget for a fresh set before winter.