2016 Fiat 500X 1.6L Diesel · WN16 NBO

A consistent pattern of front-end steering component wear has emerged over the last two MOT tests on this 2016 FIAT 500X, with both offside and nearside track rod end ball joint dust covers recorded as damaged or deteriorated at the December 2024 test and again at the December 2025 test. Although these were classified as minor defects at both visits, the recurrence on both sides at consecutive annual tests indicates that the dust covers have not been renewed and the joints remain exposed to gradual grit and moisture ingress. The most recent test on 31 December 2025 produced a pass after an earlier fail on the same date for an insufficient front windscreen washer supply, alongside the same twin track rod advisories and a nearside front tyre perishing advisory. Prior to 2024, the vehicle recorded five consecutive passes from 2020 through 2023 with no defects or advisories of any kind, so the trend in the last twenty-four months represents a clear shift from a clean record to one with emerging front axle and tyre concerns. Mileage accumulation across the recorded test history is consistent with typical use for a ten-year-old vehicle, with the odometer reading 65,454 miles at the most recent test, equating to an annual average of approximately 6,545 miles. The gap between tests has remained broadly stable at twelve to thirteen months for several years, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use rather than laid up for long periods, which reduces the likelihood of corrosion-related deterioration from standing. There are no extended gaps between test dates that would suggest prolonged inactivity, and the mileage progression between consecutive tests is broadly proportionate to the intervals between them. Mechanically, this level of use means consumable items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension components have been worked through their normal service life rather than suffering the age-related degradation associated with low-mileage, high-age vehicles. For a prospective buyer, the primary focus on inspection should be the front steering and suspension geometry. The dust covers on both track rod end ball joints have now been flagged twice and should be physically examined to confirm whether the perished rubber is still excluding dirt or whether the underlying joints have begun to take on contamination, which would manifest on a test drive as vague or wandering steering, clonking over speed humps, or uneven tyre wear across the front pair. The nearside front tyre perishing advisory from December 2024 and again at the most recent test warrants close inspection of sidewall cracking, bulging, or uneven tread wear, as sidewall degradation on a 2016 tyre compound is typical and replacement of both front tyres as a matched pair is advisable. On the road, the buyer should listen for any knocking from the front wheels when turning at low speed, check for steering pull to either side under braking, and feel for vibration through the steering wheel which could indicate a worn joint or unbalanced wheel. A secondary check should cover the items that contributed to the December 2025 fail, specifically the windscreen washer system, which is a simple fix but should be verified as functional and filled with appropriate screenwash before any purchase. Given the repeated track rod dust cover advisories, a competent inspection beneath the vehicle on a ramp would be prudent to confirm there is no play in the joints themselves and that the gaiters on the inner CV joints, steering rack, and suspension bushes have not also begun to perish, as components of similar age and material often deteriorate together. Finally, with the vehicle now approaching ten years of age, a thorough check for any emerging corrosion on underbody panels, brake pipes, and the rear silencer area is advisable, even though no such items have yet appeared on the MOT record.