2015 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · TC14 RAM

Chronic suspension wear and a persistent cooling system seepage form the defining mechanical narrative of this Fiat 500, with the most recent test on 12 January 2026 recording a pass only after a major failure three days earlier involving a nearside front coil spring that had been incorrectly remounted, an unsafe modification that clearly should not have been present at all. The earlier 2025 test outcome mirrored this pattern, passing on 13 January after a 9 January failure that flagged both front anti-roll bar linkages with slight play, a perished nearside ball joint dust cover, and an excessively worn nearside rear shock absorber bush, all of which point to progressive deterioration of the front and rear suspension hardware rather than isolated incidents. Beneath these failures sits a steady accumulation of advisories for coil spring corrosion, front brake disc pitting, and Macpherson strut top mount wear, recorded across the 2024 and 2026 tests, alongside a coolant leak first noted as a radiator weep in January 2025 that has since progressed to a more definitive radiator or expansion tank leak by the start of 2026. The record contains six tests with two failures and a meaningful cluster of structural advisories, so the trajectory is best characterised as a pattern of worsening component wear rather than a stable or improving state. Against an 11-year age, the recorded mileage of 64,324 miles equates to roughly 5,848 miles annually, which sits at the lower end of expected accumulation for a city-oriented Fiat and suggests either genuine low use or extended periods of standing. The testing history itself is broadly annual from 2020 onwards with no multi-year lay-up gaps, although the absence of any 2023 test between the January 2024 pass and the December 2022 pass means the vehicle was untested for that calendar year, and combined with the low annual mileage this raises the possibility of periods where the car was driven sparingly or stored. Mechanically, low mileage on a vehicle of this age does not automatically equate to preserved condition, and the suspension and corrosion advisories recorded here demonstrate that standing time can still allow rubber bushes to perish, boot seals to harden, brake discs to corrode, and coolant joints to degrade through oxidation rather than active wear. The fact that brake pad and disc wear advisories appeared in 2020 and brake disc corrosion reappeared in 2024 indicates the braking system has been active enough to generate service items, but the suspension component wear suggests the chassis hardware has been subject to age-related deterioration regardless of distance covered. For a prospective buyer, the cooling system should be the first item physically inspected, as the radiator weeping flagged in 2025 has now escalated to a confirmed radiator or expansion tank leak, and a cold-start visual check beneath the front of the car plus a careful look at the expansion tank for staining, pressure cap condition, and any trace of pink or green glycol residue around hose joints is essential. The Macpherson strut top mount and pin wear advisory from the 2026 test means the front suspension should be evaluated by pushing down firmly on each front corner and listening for clonks or feeling for excessive travel over speed humps and uneven surfaces, while the prior nearside rear shock absorber bush failure warrants particular attention to any knocking from the rear over undulating roads or when load is placed in the boot. The anti-roll bar linkage wear recorded in 2025 calls for a check of both front link ball joints by hand for any rotational free play, and a test drive should include a section of rough urban tarmac where any clatter or rattle from the front end will be audible through the bodywork. Given that front brake discs were flagged as pitted and corroded in both 2020 and 2024, a road test should include several firm stops from around 40 mph to feel for brake pedal judder or vibration through the steering wheel, which would indicate the discs have worn beyond skim tolerance and require replacement rather than further refurbishment. Finally, the coil spring corrosion advisory from 2024 combined with the failed spring modification in 2026 demands close visual inspection of all four springs for any signs of surface pitting, cracking, or non-standard components, and a careful look underneath the car on a ramp for any aftermarket struts or unusual mounting hardware that may have been fitted incorrectly. Because the Macpherson strut, anti-roll bar linkages, and rear shock absorber have all featured across recent failures and advisories, a comprehensive under-vehicle inspection is strongly advisable before purchase, ideally on a lift where the bushes, drop links, and top mounts can be physically stressed. The recurring tyre damage advisories from 2020 also suggest the wheels may have been scuffed against kerbs, so the alloy rims and sidewalls should be checked for bruising or impact damage. Taken together, the pattern shown in the MOT record is one of a car that has accumulated age-related wear across its suspension, cooling, and braking systems at a rate disproportionate to its modest mileage, and any purchase decision should be made with the expectation that several of these flagged items will require imminent attention.