2009 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · OE09 VRP

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history reveals a trend of neglected suspension and recurring exhaust issues. While it passed the most recent test in March 2026 at 66,017 miles, this followed a significant failure just nine days prior at 65,997 miles. That failure identified multiple critical defects including a worn offside front MacPherson way top mount, heavily worn lower suspension arms with split ball joint dust covers, and a corroded front coil spring. Although these faults were rectified to achieve the subsequent pass, the minor exhaust leak remains as a recurring adviser across several years. The mileage profile is unusually low for a 17-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 3,883 miles per year. However, a major discrepancy exists in the records between the January 2023 test at 94,927 miles and the January 2024 test at 64,667 miles. This recorded drop of over 30,000 miles in a single year suggests either an explanation reading error or a data entry mistake. Excluding this anomaly, the low usage explains the presence of perished in rubber components, such as the perishing tyres noted in 2024 and the deteriorated dust covers, which often occur when vehicles remain stationary. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the suspension geometry, as the history shows repeated failures of bushes and ball joints. The recurring mention of corrosion on the rear artwork springs indicates a potential for structural rust that requires close monitoring around the mounting points. The transmission oil leak noted in 2023 and 2024 should also be verified to ensure it is not worsening. Additionally, because the coolant level was flagged as low in March 2026, the cooling system should be pressure tested for internal leaks or head gasket issues that the tester did not detect at the time of the MOT.