2015 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · ST65 OBG

A clean advisory-free MOT record defines this 2015 Fiat 500's mechanical story so far, with the most recent pass on 4 November 2025 following immediately on the heels of a no-defect failure recorded just six days earlier on 29 October 2025. That same pattern repeats a year prior, where a pass on 1 November 2024 was preceded by a no-defect failure on 28 October 2024. The clustering of failures immediately before each annual pass, paired with a 2023 pass on 8 November that also recorded no defects, suggests a vehicle that has historically had no trouble meeting DVSA standards but has twice failed its first attempt late in the testing window. Since neither failure logged any specific defects, the cause on each occasion is unrecorded, though typical reasons for such pre-booked re-tests include rectification of brake or tyre items completed between the two appointments. The overarching picture is one of consistent roadworthiness with no chronic advisories or recurring component wear flagged over the testing history available, which is a reassuring baseline for a car now entering its twelfth year. At 48,885 miles over approximately eleven years, this Fiat has covered only around 4,444 miles annually, a notably low accumulation rate for a small city car of this vintage. Such restrained usage means that wear items such as brake pads and discs, tyres, and clutch components are unlikely to have been heavily consumed, though low annual mileage also implies extended periods of standing which can bring their own concerns. Stand-by deterioration is most relevant for the 12V battery, coolant condition, brake fluid moisture absorption, and the drying and cracking of rubber components including suspension bushes, drive shaft gaiters, and engine seals. The relatively even cadence of annual MOT tests, with no multi-year gaps in the recorded history, indicates the car has not been formally off the road and presumably has remained in regular, if light, use. That consistency reduces, but does not eliminate, the likelihood of prolonged lay-up damage. For a prospective buyer, the absence of any flagged suspension, brake, exhaust, or corrosion items across three testing cycles means there is no specific defect history to chase down on a physical inspection, but several Fiat 500-specific weak points warrant close attention given the low mileage usage profile. On a test drive, listen carefully for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over uneven road surfaces, particularly from the anti-roll bar drop links and lower wishbone bushes which are known to perish with age even at low mileages. Check for any pulling to one side under deceleration which may indicate a binding front caliper, a common Fiat 500 issue, and feel for any vibration through the brake pedal or steering wheel which could point to disc lipping or warping from infrequent use followed by sharp stops. Inspect the underside carefully for any signs of oil misting or weeping from the engine and gearbox joints, and examine the exhaust system and rear axle area for the early surface corrosion that affects these cars in UK conditions. Because every recorded test passed cleanly on re-test and no advisory items have ever been logged, the focus on inspection should rightly fall on latent wear from light use rather than any chronic flagged defects. Ask the seller to demonstrate cold-start behaviour, as short journeys and infrequent use can mask battery weakness and deteriorated coolant, and verify the service history shows periodic replacement of brake fluid and coolant irrespective of the modest annual mileage. Examine all four tyres for even tread depth and any signs of flat-spotting or sidewall cracking from standing, and confirm the spare or repair kit is present and in date. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp remains advisable to check the rear subframe mounting points, exhaust hangers, and front MacPherson strut top mounts, none of which have been recorded as defective but all of which are typical age-related wear points on a Fiat 500 of this generation.