2010 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · GU10 MWL

The 2010 Fiat 500 presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a completely clean pass on 11 February 2026 at 31,059 miles with zero defects recorded. That outcome is significant because it follows a period of genuine structural concern. On 21 February 2023, the vehicle failed the same test on a dangerously corroded offside front Macpherson strut mounting at 27,038 miles. The fact that the car returned later that same day and passed suggests the mounting was repaired or replaced promptly. By the 2024 test at 28,609 miles, the tester flagged an offside rear service brake binding, a fault that did not recur in 2025 or 2026. The trajectory from a structural failure in early 2023 to a flawless result in early 2026 indicates the previous owner addressed serious issues and has since maintained the car to a reasonable standard. The mileage profile tells a clear story of very light use. Across approximately sixteen years, the car has covered just 31,059 miles, averaging roughly 1,941 miles per year. The annual increments between tests are modest and consistent: 1,546 miles between February 2023 and February 2024, 1,546 miles again between 2024 and 2025, and 904 miles between 2025 and 2026. There are no alarming gaps or sudden spikes in accumulation that would suggest the odometer has been tampered with or that the car sat unused for extended periods. The low mileage helps explain the generally clean record, though it does not eliminate the risk of age-related deterioration in rubber components, brake seals, and underbody corrosion. A buyer inspecting this car in person should focus on the front suspension and underbody, given the 2023 Macpherson strut mounting failure. Even though the repair appears to have held through three subsequent tests, the original corrosion was severe enough to constitute a serious structural weakness. Check the strut tops, subframe mounting points, and inner wing lower edges for fresh corrosion or poorly finished repairs. The binding offside rear brake flagged in 2024 at 28,609 miles also warrants attention. A sticking caliper or collapsed brake hose can cause uneven pad wear and dragging that may not always trigger an MOT advisory if it resolves during the test. Inspect the rear brake pads, discs, and caliper slides for uneven wear patterns. The nearside rear tyre advisory from 21 February 2025 at 30,155 miles, noted as slightly damaged, cracking, or perishing, points to slow deterioration consistent with a car that covers very few miles annually. Tyres on low-mileage vehicles age out rather than wear out. Check the date codes on all four tyres and the spare, looking for cracking in the sidewalls or tread grooves regardless of remaining tread depth. Rubber suspension bushes, dust boots, and exhaust flexible joints should also be examined for perishing, as sixteen years of age will degrade these components even at low mileage. Overall, the MOT record is reassuring, but the 2023 structural failure means a thorough underbody inspection remains essential before purchase.