2012 Fiat 500 0.9L Petrol · LO12 EVX

The Fiat 500 presents a mixed maintenance picture with a stable but incomplete resolution of recurring faults. The most recent test on 10 June 2026 at 75,463 miles shows a same-day pass after an initial failure for a non-functioning offside rear stop lamp, which was rectified promptly. However, the pass came with an advisory for a worn offside front lower suspension arm rear bush, a fault that has persisted across consecutive tests without repair. This suggests a pattern of addressing only the immediate failure items while deferring suspension wear, which is a common but short-sighted approach. The mileage accumulation is notably low at roughly 5,390 miles per year over fourteen years. Between the April 2025 test at 70,436 miles and the June 2026 test at 75,463 miles, the car covered 5,027 miles in just under fourteen months, indicating a recent uptick in use after what appears to be a period of lighter running. The gap between the 2024 test at 68,525 miles and the 2025 test at 70,434 miles shows only 1,909 miles over twelve months, reinforcing the impression of inconsistent usage patterns. Such stop-start motoring can accelerate corrosion on brake components and exhaust systems beyond what the mileage alone would suggest. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the front suspension, specifically the offside lower arm rear bush, which has been flagged as worn in both the 2026 advisory and the earlier 2025 pass. Persistent bush wear at this mileage points to either a manufacturing weakness or prolonged neglect, and it will eventually affect steering precision and tyre wear if left unaddressed. The front brake discs were noted as corroded in the April 2024 test, and given the low annual mileage, surface rust from standing periods is a realistic concern that a visual check of disc condition and pad thickness would confirm. The tyre history in April 2025 reveals multiple advisories for sidewall damage and perishing across all four corners, along with an offside rear tyre worn to near the legal limit on its inner edge. Inner edge wear is a strong indicator of misaligned tracking or worn suspension geometry, which ties back directly to the flagged suspension bush. Any prospective inspection should include a four-wheel alignment check and a close examination of all tyre sidewalls for fresh cracking, particularly if the car has been standing for extended periods between uses.