2016 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · PJ66 XGC

The 2016 FIAT 500 currently holds a valid MOT issued on 2025-12-30 at 37,303 miles with zero defects recorded. That clean pass is recent and reassuring, but it sits directly alongside a failed test on the same date at the same mileage, revealing a pattern of faults that were rectified in a short window. The maintenance trend is therefore mixed. The most recent failure flagged a fractured nearside rear coil spring, an insecure front suspension arm impairing directional stability, a parking brake below efficiency requirements, and a missing rear exhaust silencer clamp. These are not minor consumable items. A fractured coil spring and an insecure suspension arm point to genuine structural and mechanical risk at the time of testing, though the subsequent clean pass confirms they were addressed. The car appears to have been corrected back to a roadworthy state rather than left in a deteriorating condition. Mileage accumulation tells a clear story of very light use. The vehicle covered roughly 3,730 miles per year on average, climbing from 24,381 miles in July 2023 to 29,304 miles in October 2024, then jumping to 37,303 miles by December 2025. That final interval of nearly 8,000 miles in just over twelve months represents a notable acceleration in use after a period of slower accumulation. The gap between October 2024 and December 2025 is the longest in the record at fourteen months, yet the mileage increase during that stretch is the largest. This could indicate a change in ownership or usage pattern, and the cluster of serious defects found at the December 2025 test may reflect deferred attention during the prior period of lighter use. Buyers should focus their physical inspection on the rear suspension and braking system. The fractured nearside rear coil spring and worn front suspension arm bushes flagged in 2024 and 2025 suggest the car has had recurring suspension component fatigue. Check both rear coil springs for any signs of cracking, sag, or corrosion, and inspect the front lower suspension arms and bushes for play or deterioration. The parking brake deficiency noted in the December 2025 failure warrants a test on a gradient to confirm it holds securely. Examine the rear exhaust silencer and its mounting clamp, as the insecure clamp from the same failure indicates possible neglect of exhaust system hardware. Brake discs and pads should be measured, given the inner disc wear flagged in October 2024 at 29,302 miles, and tyre condition monitored closely, as tread wear advisories appeared in both 2023 and 2024. Despite the current clean MOT, the history shows this car has needed significant chassis and braking work within the last two years, and a pre-purchase inspection of those specific areas is strongly advisable.