2017 Fiat Panda 1.2L Petrol · GD66 HFS

A pattern of recurring front suspension bush wear, brake disc deterioration, and emission-related exhaust concerns defines the mechanical history of this 2017 Fiat Panda, with four MOT failures recorded across 2024 and 2026 despite the vehicle consistently passing the retest on the same day or shortly after. The most recent examination on 2026-02-02 produced a pass alongside five advisories, but a separate failure entry on the same date flagged exhaust lambda readings outside specified limits, excessive engine idle speed, an exhaust leak likely to affect emissions, a non-functional driver's seat fore-aft adjustment mechanism, and an underperforming windscreen washer. These failures coincide with an advisory regarding a defective front exhaust mounting, suggesting that the emission faults are linked to an exhaust system integrity issue rather than purely engine management concerns. Earlier in 2025 the vehicle failed on an ineffective offside windscreen wiper, while 2024 saw two failures concentrated on heavily cut nearside tyres and, more concerning, a near-side front shock absorber with a serious fluid leak and both rear upper shock absorbers with excessively worn bushes, indicating a substantive deterioration in the damping and suspension assembly at that point. The recorded mileage of 107,234 miles over a nine-year period equates to roughly 11,915 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a city-focused supermini of this age, though the testing chronology shows MOT entries clustered closely together in 2024 and 2026, with no recorded test between February 2023 and February 2024 and another gap before the 2025 test. The 2024 record contains three separate test entries within a two-day span, which is consistent with a vehicle that was prepared and retested promptly following repairs rather than left unattended. For this Panda, the mileage accumulation combined with repeated advisories on front lower suspension arm pins and bushes, brake discs on both sides, and shock absorber mounting bushes points to the kind of progressive wear one would expect on a small car driven predominantly in urban conditions, where potholed roads, frequent low-speed manoeuvres, and repeated thermal cycling of the braking system accelerate deterioration of suspension pivots and friction surfaces. The chronic nature of the front suspension bush advisories, which appear in 2024, 2025, and 2026, suggests an unresolved wear pattern that has now been present in every test for at least three consecutive years. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the front suspension assembly during a physical inspection and test drive. The persistent advisories on nearside and offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush wear, together with the 2024 major failure on both rear upper shock absorber bushes and a leaking front shock absorber, indicate that the rubber pivots in both the front lower arms and rear damper top mounts are reaching the end of their service life. On a road test, listen for clonks or knocks transmitted through the body over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, particularly from the front end, and feel for any vagueness in the steering response or a slight delay in directional changes that would suggest the front lower arm bushes have worn beyond the advisory threshold. Check for uneven tyre wear across the front axle, as worn lower arm bushes frequently produce inconsistent camber and accelerated shoulder wear. Examine the rear suspension area for any visible fluid streaking on the shock absorber bodies and attempt to compress each rear corner by hand if access allows, noting whether the rebound feels slow and controlled or whether the unit extends rapidly without resistance. The braking system warrants equally close scrutiny given the repeated pitted and scored brake disc advisories on both the nearside front and offside discs in 2025, which by the 2026 test no longer appeared as advisories and may indicate replacement. On a test drive, the buyer should perform several moderate to firm stops from around 30 mph on a smooth road surface, paying particular attention to any steering wheel vibration, pedal pulsation, or squealing that would suggest the replacement discs have been subjected to hot spotting or that the caliper slide mechanisms are binding. The exhaust system requires a cold-start inspection, listening for any ticking or hissing that intensifies with revs, which would confirm the exhaust leak referenced in the 2026 failure, and the front exhaust mounting should be physically checked for cracked rubber or separation. The 2026 lambda and idle speed failures should not be assumed resolved purely because the same-day pass was issued, so a handheld OBD scan for stored fault codes relating to the oxygen sensor, throttle body adaptation, or idle air control would be prudent. Finally, verify the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism is fully functional across its entire range, and confirm that the windscreen washer delivers a consistent jet to both the nearside and offside wiper swept areas, as both were major defects at the last test.