2017 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · VU17 YYA

The 2017 FIAT 500 presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a fully clean MOT pass on 5 March 2026 at 42,613 miles with zero defects recorded. This is a significant turnaround from the February 2025 test cycle, where the car initially failed on the same day at 36,973 miles due to an excessively worn offside rear upper shock absorber bush. The owner rectified that suspension defect before passing the retest later that same day, and the subsequent 12 months have produced no new advisories or failures. The trajectory from a suspension-related failure in early 2025 to a spotless pass in early 2026 suggests attentive remedial work and consistent upkeep over the past year. The mileage profile tells a story of very light use. At roughly 4,735 miles per year over nine years, this is well below the UK average of approximately 7,500 to 8,000 miles annually. The record shows a steady but modest accumulation: 25,822 miles by March 2023, 31,225 miles by March 2024, 36,973 miles by February 2025, and 42,613 miles by March 2026. That final jump of approximately 5,640 miles in 12 months represents the highest annual rate in the recorded history, which may indicate a change in ownership or usage pattern. Low-mileage vehicles can suffer from deteriorated rubber components, perished tyres, and moisture-related corrosion from prolonged standing, so the clean 2026 result is reassuring but does not eliminate the need for a physical inspection of aged elastomers and seals. The recurring theme across the MOT history is tyre degradation. Every test from March 2024 back flagged perished, cracking, or deteriorating tyres, with the February 2025 test also recording an offside front tyre worn to 2.3mm, dangerously close to the 1.6mm legal minimum. A buyer should carefully inspect all four tyres for sidewall cracking, date codes indicating age, and uneven wear patterns that could point to alignment or suspension geometry issues. The February 2025 failure for a worn shock absorber bush is the only mechanical defect in the entire record, and its resolution appears to have held, but a physical check of all suspension bushes, coil springs, and damper tops remains prudent. The front brake pads and discs flagged as wearing thin in February 2025 were addressed before the retest pass, so a test drive should confirm balanced braking without pulling, judder, or excessive pedal travel. Given the low annual mileage, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion, particularly on brake lines, subframes, and exhaust mounting points, is advisable even though no structural defects have appeared on paper.