2015 Fiat Panda 1.2L Petrol · SC15 AXP

A concerning mechanical theme runs through this Fiat Panda's MOT record, centring on the front suspension and rear damper mounting. The most recent test on 27 May 2026 resulted in a failure due to a fractured offside front coil spring and an excessively worn upper bush on the nearside rear shock absorber, with the vehicle then passing on the same date once those Major defects were presumably rectified. However, this is not an isolated suspension event: a fractured nearside front coil spring was also recorded as a Major failure back in June 2021. Two fractured front coil springs within a five-year span on a 1.2-lightweight supermini of this age and mileage points to either genuine component fatigue or persistent use over poor road surfaces, and the rear shock absorber bush wear flagged in 2026 represents a related deterioration in the damping assembly. Additional advisories from the 2026 test, including a broken front exhaust hanger and a nearside rear tyre worn down to 2.80mm, suggest the car may have been left in a state where some lower-priority items were deferred rather than addressed comprehensively. Against an age of roughly eleven years, the recorded 39,746-mile accumulation equates to approximately 3,613 miles per year, which is notably low for the vehicle's vintage and indicates either extended periods of immobility or genuinely restricted usage. The MOT history itself shows annual testing from 2021 through to 2026 with no multi-year gaps, so the vehicle has not been formally declared off the road through SORN, but the modest annual mileage still carries mechanical implications. Low-mileage cars of this age frequently present with dry-rotted rubber components, seized brake calipers from prolonged inactivity, and stiff or cracked suspension bushes due to lack of regular articulation. The fact that a coil spring fractured in 2021 and again in 2026, with shock absorber mounting wear now appearing on the same test, suggests that the undertray and suspension components may be experiencing the combined effects of age and irregular loading cycles rather than high-mileage wear. A prospective buyer should carry out a focused physical and dynamic inspection centred on the components the MOT record has flagged. Begin at the front with a visual check inside the wheel arch for any remaining coil spring fractures, particularly on the offside, and look for uneven ride height or the vehicle sitting lower on one corner, which would indicate a weakened or collapsed spring that has not yet fractured completely. At the rear, inspect the upper shock absorber mountings for perished, split, or displaced bushes and rock the wheel vertically to detect excessive play that points to worn damping hardware. On the test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises transmitted through the body over speed humps and uneven tarmac, which would confirm loose spring seats or trailing arm bushes, and pay attention to any steering wander or tramlining, as worn front coil springs can alter the caster geometry on this platform. The exhaust system warrants examination beneath the car for the broken front hanger noted in 2026, as a hanging tailpipe can induce vibration and may have caused secondary stress on the catalytic converter mounting. Finally, given the 2021 oil leak failure from the engine sump and the low overall mileage, inspect the underside for fresh seepage around the sump plug, gasket, and oil filter housing, and check the coolant and oil levels on the dipstick before any test drive to rule out ongoing fluid loss that could link back to that earlier defect.