2011 Fiat Fiorino 1.3L Diesel · SA61 DYV

A pattern of significant exhaust and tyre defects punctuates this Fiat Fiorino's MOT record, establishing emissions integrity and tyre condition as the principal mechanical concerns rather than a generally consistent roadworthy state. Across six tests, only two resulted in clean passes with no advisories, while the remaining four contain either major defects or advisories. The most recent test on 2022-08-04 was a pass with no defects recorded, which is a positive conclusion to the documented history. However, prior to 2020, a major exhaust leak was identified at the central exhaust section and a broken rear exhaust hanger bracket was flagged, with a subsequent 2020 test abandoned because exhaust smoke exceeded permissible limits to such an extent that the emissions test could not be completed. The parking brake efficiency also dropped below acceptable standards on that occasion. Two of the three major exhaust-related defects recorded in 2019 and 2020 represent genuine emission compliance failures, suggesting the diesel after-treatment and exhaust system have required meaningful intervention. With 107,129 miles accumulated over roughly 15 years, the vehicle averages approximately 7,142 miles per year, which is broadly consistent with typical usage for its age and does not suggest extended periods off the road. The testing frequency is reasonably consistent from 2018 onwards, with annual entries, though no tests appear between 2014 and 2018, which may reflect a period of non-use or registration changes. For a diesel commercial-derived van of this age and mileage, wear items such as brake discs, suspension components, tyres, and exhaust mounting hardware are expected to show their age, and the recorded defects align broadly with what is typical for the mileage profile. The brake disc advisory from 2019 and the suspension arm corrosion advisory from 2018 are both consistent with gradual wear progression rather than indicative of imminent failure, but warrant inspection of those specific components. Given the recurring exhaust defects, particular attention should be paid to the complete exhaust system from the manifold gasket downstream to the rear silencer, listening for escaping gases, hissing sounds during idle, and signs of black soot deposits on joints which could indicate compromised sealing. On test drive, monitor the dashboard for any diesel particulate filter warning lights and check for a persistent smoky exhaust, particularly under acceleration, as the 2020 test was halted due to excessive smoke. The parking brake, which failed on efficiency grounds, should be tested on an incline to confirm it holds the vehicle securely without excessive lever travel. Inspect the offside front suspension arm area closely for corrosion deterioration, as the 2018 advisory noted it was corroded but not seriously weakened; listen for clonks or knocking noises over speed bumps and uneven road surfaces that could indicate progression of that corrosion into the bush or arm integrity. Tyre condition demands careful evaluation given that three tyres on different axles and sides failed with cuts exposing ply or cords in 2018. Examine all four tyres and the spare for cuts, cracking, or perishing, particularly on the sidewalls, and verify the manufacture date stamps are within an acceptable age range. The offside rear tyre was also flagged in 2018 for slight damage, so that specific corner warrants closer scrutiny. Given the brake disc advisory from 2019, perform a moderately firm brake application from higher speed to detect any pedal judder or steering wheel vibration, both indicative of disc run-out or uneven wear, and check for any grinding or scraping noises from the front calipers. Finally, given the headlamp aim failure in 2019, verify both headlamp beams are correctly aligned and produce a sharp horizontal cutoff pattern on a flat surface, as misaligned headlamps remain a common failure point and an MOT examiner will record this as a defect.