2012 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · SA12 BFO

The vehicle remains roadworthy, but the maintenance history shows a trend of developing suspension-related wear. While the most recent test in June 2025 at 47,982 miles passed, it introduced advisories for worn rear shock absorber bushes and corrosion on both rear coil springs. This represents a progression from the 2024 tests where only individual bushes were flagged, indicating that the rear suspension assembly is reaching the end of its functional life despite the low overall mileage. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 14-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 3,400 miles per year. There is a notable gap in usage between April 2022 at 37,675 miles and April 2023 at 40,634 miles, where the car covered only 3,000 miles in a year. Such low usage often leads to the degradation of rubber components due to age rather than mechanical stress, which explains the recurring issues with suspension bushes and ball joints observed during the May 2024 failure. A buyer should prioritise a physical inspection of the rear suspension area to assess the extent of the corrosion on the coil springs mentioned in 2025. Because corrosion can lead to sudden structural failure, it is vital to determine if the rust is surface-level or structural. The offside front ball joint, which caused a failure in May 2024, should be checked for any play to ensure the previous repair was thorough. Given the history of worn tyres and uneven wear, a wheel alignment check should also be conducted to prevent premature replacement of new tyres.