2018 Fiat Punto 1.2L Petrol · GD67 AXB

The most recent DVSA examination on 22 January 2026 returned a pass, but only after a prior test on the same vehicle three days earlier resulted in a failure with multiple major defects. The previous three annual tests in 2023, 2024, and 2025 had all passed, although advisories were recorded each year. The pattern therefore shows a vehicle that had been holding its roadworthiness reasonably well through 2023 to 2025 but then developed a cluster of significant front suspension and steering defects immediately prior to the 2026 test, alongside an engine management warning lamp issue. The most recent pass should be regarded as a borderline outcome rather than a clean bill of health, particularly because the advisory items recorded at the same time, namely worn front brake pads and front tyres down to between 1.6mm and 3mm of tread, indicate that further immediate attention is required regardless of the pass certificate. Against an age of eight years, the recorded mileage of 56,193 miles equates to an average of roughly 7,000 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a small Fiat Punto of this generation. There are no obvious extended gaps in usage, nor is there evidence of unusually high accumulation within short intervals, so the wear pattern should reflect steady mixed driving rather than the extremes of long-term standing or heavy motorway mileage. This is a helpful indicator for a buyer, as it suggests that ordinary serviceable items such as timing belts or chains, clutches, and exhaust components are likely to have worn in proportion to their use rather than suffering the corrosion and fluid degradation often seen on low-mileage cars that have been left standing. The 2026 failure is the central area of concern and warrants close physical inspection. The fractured offside front coil spring must have been replaced to achieve the subsequent pass, and this should be verified by paperwork, but buyers should still listen for any remaining clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, which could indicate that the opposite spring is also fatigued or that associated damping has been affected. Both track rod end ball joint dust covers were recorded as excessively deteriorated at the same test, and although replacement gaiters and grease can rectify the immediate failure point, the joints themselves may have already ingested contamination, leading to accelerated wear. On a test drive, listen for any clicking or rattling from the front end during full-lock manoeuvres, and check for uneven or feathered front tyre wear which would suggest the geometry has been disturbed. The engine management malfunction indicator lamp being inoperative is a separate concern, as it could simply be a bulb or wiring issue but might also indicate that a fault has been present without being flagged; a diagnostic code read using a suitable OBD tool would be prudent before purchase. The recurring front brake pad wear advisory across both the 2025 and 2026 tests indicates that pad material is being consumed faster than expected, and any new pads fitted at the 2026 test should be inspected for remaining friction material and the condition of the caliper slides for free movement, since binding calipers are a common cause of uneven pad wear on small Fiat models. The front brake discs have also drawn advisories in three consecutive years for pitting, scoring, and general wear, which on an eight-year-old car at this mileage suggests they are approaching the minimum thickness and may soon require replacement alongside the next set of pads. The exhaust rear box blowing advisory from 2023 should be confirmed as resolved, as exhaust leaks near the rear can worsen over time and contribute to MOT failures and elevated emissions. Beyond the documented history, a buyer of an eight-year-old Punto should also examine the tyres for sidewall cracking or perishing even where tread remains adequate, check the 12 volt battery for holding charge under load, verify that brake fluid and coolant have been changed on a calendar basis regardless of mileage, and look closely at the underbody and wheel arches for any corrosion that could compromise structural integrity, particularly given that the vehicle has now had multiple suspension components replaced.