2012 Fiat Fiorino 1.2L Diesel · FN62 ABX

The most recent DVSA examination on 29 January 2026 returned a pass, although the tester recorded a minor defect for front windscreen damage that does not presently impede the driver's view, alongside two advisories concerning the offside front service brake binding slightly and an offside front suspension arm rear bush showing wear without excessive play. Looking back through the records, the previous two tests in 2025 and 2024 were both passed with only tyre-related advisories in 2025 and a fully clean record in 2024, while the 2022 and 2023 tests also passed without any recorded defects. This pattern suggests a broadly stable maintenance trend rather than a deteriorating one, but it is worth noting that the most recent test is the only one to flag brake and suspension concerns, indicating these areas merit close attention before purchase. At roughly 5,158 miles per year over a fourteen-year life, this Fiorino is well below the average annual mileage and points to either light-duty use or extended periods of standing. The MOT records show a consistent yearly cadence from 2022 onwards, which suggests the vehicle has been in regular rather than sporadic use, but the low overall figure means that calendar-related degradation of components such as rubber seals, brake hydraulic fluid, coolant, and timing belt materials will be at least as significant as wear from distance covered. Any prospective buyer should confirm the timing belt and auxiliary drive belt replacement intervals have been observed on schedule, as Fiat recommended these at fixed time intervals regardless of mileage, and verify that brake fluid and coolant have been refreshed within the last two to three years. Given the advisories recorded on the most recent test, a physical inspection should focus on the offside front brake caliper and sliding mechanism; a binding caliper will often present as a pulling sensation to one side under braking, a hot-smell or visible heat haze from the wheel after driving, or uneven brake pad wear with the offside pad worn more heavily than its nearside counterpart. The offside front suspension arm rear bush wear should prompt a careful check for any clonking or knocking noises from the front end when traversing speed bumps or uneven surfaces, as well as uneven inner-edge tyre wear on the offside front and vague or wandering steering response. A thorough road test should include firm braking from moderate speed to detect any shudder through the pedal, indicating possible disc distortion from standing corrosion, and listening for any suspension rattle over potholed roads. Beyond the recorded advisories, the low-mileage and fourteen-year-old profile warrants a wider inspection of age-related items. Tyres fitted to a vehicle of this vintage frequently suffer from sidewall perishing and cracking even where the tread depth appears serviceable, so all four tyres should be examined for hairline cracks in the sidewall rubber and checked for their date code, as tyres older than six years from manufacture are generally considered due for replacement regardless of tread remaining. The 12-volt battery is likely approaching the end of its useful life and should be load-tested, while all underbonnet hoses, drive shafts, and steering rack gaiters warrant a visual check for splits or perished rubber from prolonged low-stress use. Given the standing periods implied by low annual mileage, the brake discs themselves may have developed surface corrosion that could cause initial pedal judder or vibration on the first application, and the exhaust system and underbody should be examined for any corrosion given the Fiorino's commercial vehicle origins and typical working environment exposure.