2018 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · FD68 WWB

A 2018 Fiat 500 carrying 35,280 miles presents an MOT profile that is largely free of recorded defects across its later tests, though a closer inspection of the history reveals a single but significant failure event at the 2023 test. The most recent examination on 17 November 2025 returned a pass with no advisories, matching the clean outcomes recorded on 5 December 2024 and 5 January 2022. However, the same visit on 29 November 2023 produced a Dangerous failure for front brake pad wear below 1.5 mm and front tyre tread depth below the legal 1.6 mm threshold on both sides, before the car was subsequently presented later that day and passed without defects. The absence of any advisory items related to suspension, corrosion, exhaust integrity, or brake pipe condition across five recorded tests is a positive indicator of structural and roadworthiness stability, although the 2023 Dangerous failure demonstrates that braking and tyre components had reached a critical service state. With approximately 4,410 miles accumulated per year over eight years, this Fiat has seen light use relative to typical expectations for a city car of its age. There are no significant gaps in the recorded testing pattern, with annual or near-annual submissions from 2022 through 2025, and the mileage progression is broadly consistent rather than displaying large jumps or stagnation. Low annual mileage of this nature tends to reduce wear on high-cycle components such as the clutch, drivetrain, and brake friction surfaces, but it can also expose rubber and polymer items to prolonged static degradation. For a vehicle of this profile, particular attention should be given to underbody components and rubber boots that may have aged rather than worn, though the MOT record does not flag any such deterioration at present. The components most directly relevant to this vehicle's history are the front braking system and the front tyres, both of which were flagged at Dangerous levels in late 2023. A prospective buyer should conduct a road test focusing on brake pedal feel, listening for any grinding or squealing from the front calipers that could indicate worn pads or scored discs after the recorded low-pad event, and checking for pulling to one side under braking which may suggest a binding caliper or uneven pad wear. The front tyres should be inspected for even tread wear across both shoulders, as inside-edge wear on a small Fiat can point to alignment or worn suspension linkage issues, though none have been recorded. Given the Dangerous-level tread failure on both front tyres in 2023, it is worth confirming the age of the currently fitted tyres, as older tyres may have been left standing in the same period. Beyond the flagged systems, the absence of any recorded advisories on suspension components, coil springs, track rod ends, or anti-roll bar bushes across all five tests is a reassuring baseline, but a physical inspection remains worthwhile for a low-mileage car of this age. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which can reveal worn top mounts, drop links, or control arm bushes even when not previously flagged. The steering should be checked for vagueness or delays around the straight-ahead position, as electric power steering racks on Fiat 500s can develop wear at low mileages due to infrequent use. Finally, inspect the underbody edges, subframe mounting points, and brake pipes for any surface corrosion, as the MOT history does not record any inspection of these areas beyond the standard visual check, and rust development on an eight-year-old car in UK conditions is a known consideration regardless of mileage.