2012 Fiat Fiorino 1.2L Diesel · SC61 AEW

The mechanical story of this 2012 Fiat Fiorino is anchored by a fractured nearside front coil spring recorded as a Major defect at the September 2021 test, an item which sits at the more serious end of the MOT failure spectrum and cannot be dismissed as routine wear. Beyond that one significant suspension failure, the record is largely devoid of repeat component defects, with only a single tyre-related Dangerous failure in September 2022, a handful of minor advisories around the nearside front tyre and headlight alignment, and an oil warning lamp note from 2019. The two most recent tests, in December 2023 and January 2025, returned clean passes with no advisories or defects recorded at all, suggesting that whatever remedial work was carried out following the 2021 suspension failure has not generated repeat advisories on the same components. The overall trajectory is therefore one of a single acute mechanical event rather than a pattern of progressive decline, though buyers should not interpret the recent clean tests as confirmation that the underlying spring issue cannot recur on the opposite side or in the rear. Mileage accumulation across fourteen years sits at 107,321 miles, working out to roughly 7,666 miles annually, which is broadly in line with what one would expect from a small commercial van of this vintage. The recorded odometer readings across the MOT history are not supplied here, so it is not possible to confirm whether mileage has been steady, has included any large year-on-year jumps, or whether there have been periods of very light use. Given the working-vehicle character of the Fiorino, the consistent annual test attendance since 2019 with no extended gaps suggests the vehicle has remained in regular service rather than being laid up for prolonged periods, which is mechanically favourable as it avoids the typical issues associated with long-term standing such as seized brakes, perished rubber, and flat-spotted tyres. The absence of any mileage-driven advisories relating to wear items such as brake discs or bushes on the more recent tests is consistent with a vehicle that has continued to accumulate distance at a moderate rate. For a prospective buyer, the fractured nearside front coil spring flagged in 2021 is the priority item to investigate on inspection. Coil springs are not paired replacements by convention, but on a vehicle of this age and mileage it is reasonable to ask whether the opposite side spring was replaced at the same time, and whether the strut top mount and shock absorber were inspected for secondary damage from the broken spring. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, particularly on left-hand turns where load transfers onto the nearside, and feel for any vagueness in the steering response or uneven tyre wear across the front axle which could indicate geometry disturbance following the spring failure. Visually inspect the spring seats and surrounding strut body for any signs of corrosion, as rust in this area can accelerate spring fracture on older commercial vehicles. The tyre-related history also warrants specific attention during a physical inspection. The Dangerous tread depth failure in September 2022 and the slight nearside front tyre damage advisories recorded in 2021 indicate that the nearside front wheel area has been the subject of repeated attention, and a buyer should check the current nearside front tyre for uneven shoulder wear, bulges, or cuts, as well as confirming that the wheel alignment has not been compromised. The 2019 advisory of an oil light flashing is a relatively isolated note but should not be ignored, as intermittent oil pressure warnings on a higher-mileage engine can indicate a worn pump, a sticking pressure relief valve, or partially blocked pick-up pipe, so it is worth confirming that the oil pressure warning lamp extinguishes promptly on startup and that there is no evidence of excessive oil consumption between services. Finally, ensure that the headlight aim, which was noted as adjusted at both 2021 tests, remains within specification, as misaligned beams can cause an MOT failure on a vehicle of this age and may indicate tired adjustment mechanisms or worn mounting points.