2015 Fiat Panda 1.2L Petrol · NL65 VEM

Front brake disc wear and tyre edge wear dominate the MOT record, with recurring advisories on both front discs, pads and the front tyre tread. The latest test on 19 August 2026 confirmed a pass, yet it again flagged the nearside and off‑side front discs as worn, pitted or scored and the front pads as thin, echoing similar notes from 2019 and 2025. Tyre wear close to the legal limit has been flagged every year since 2019, indicating a pattern of high‑wear front tyres that have not yet required replacement but are approaching the end of their serviceable life. At 40 714 miles for an eleven‑year‑old 2015 Fiat Panda the annual average is roughly 3 700 miles, well below the typical UK usage rate. Such low mileage often points to periods of limited use or extended storage, which can be benign for wear‑dependent components but may encourage corrosion in hidden areas such as suspension bushings or brake hardware. The consistent yearly MOTs with only advisories suggest the vehicle has not been driven hard, yet the lack of mileage spikes also means that wear items have been replaced or refreshed less frequently, potentially leaving them to deteriorate gradually. When inspecting the brakes, measure the disc thickness and look for deep scoring; any sudden vibration or pulsation through the pedal under braking could signal that the discs are nearing the minimum legal thickness. The pads should be examined for uneven wear, and a squealing or grinding noise on initial brake application would indicate that replacement is imminent. Given the repeated front tyre edge wear advisories, check the tread depth across the width of each front tyre, feel for any bulges or cuts, and verify that no nail or foreign object remains embedded; a thumping sensation at highway speeds often precedes a tyre failure. The suspension warrants particular attention. The nearside front track‑rod ball joint was noted with slight play in 2023 and both front arm pins showed wear in 2020, so listen for clunks or knocks when traversing bumps and feel for any looseness in the steering feel. Inspect the rear tyres for the reported cracking or perishing, especially around the sidewalls, and watch for vibration that could indicate a tyre structural issue. Replacing the front brake discs, pads and front tyres, and addressing any suspension bush wear, will bring the car back to a solid road‑worthy condition and reduce the likelihood of unexpected failures.