2018 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · WP18 AFV

The 2018 FIAT 500 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 12 September 2025 at 21,098 miles passed, but only after a failure four days earlier at 21,094 miles. That failure exposed a serious structural defect: the offside front tyre had ply or cords exposed, a high-risk condition indicating the previous owner ran the car in an unsafe state. The same test also flagged a worn nearside front tyre, a corroded centre or rear exhaust clamp, and corroding front brake discs. The pass on the retest confirms the tyre was replaced, yet the corroded exhaust clamp and front brake discs carried over as advisories, meaning they were not repaired. The trend is not cleanly stable or worsening; it shows a pattern of neglecting basic consumable upkeep, then scrambling to fix only the most dangerous item to get a pass. The mileage profile is unusually low for an eight-year-old car. Between the 2022 test at 7,916 miles and the 2024 test at 13,899 miles, the car covered roughly 6,000 miles in nearly two years, averaging around 3,000 miles annually. From 2024 to the September 2025 test at 21,098 miles, it added another 7,199 miles in just over a year, a noticeable jump. The gap between 2022 and 2023 is also sparse, with only one test at 9,115 miles in May 2023, leaving a long unmonitored period. Low annual use can mean less mechanical wear, but it also raises the risk of long standing periods, which accelerates rubber deterioration, brake surface corrosion, and fluid degradation. A buyer should focus on the front brake system and exhaust integrity. Corroding front brake discs flagged in the September 2025 test suggest the discs may have pitting or lipping that reduces braking efficiency and accelerates pad wear. Inspect the disc faces and pads in person, and check whether the calipers are dragging, as low-mileage cars often suffer from sticking slides and pistons. The corroded centre or rear exhaust clamp is a structural concern; if the clamp has weakened, the exhaust could partially detach, especially over rough roads. Examine the full exhaust for rust-through at joints and mounting points, not just the clamp. Tyre condition and suspension health also warrant close attention. The exposed ply on the offside front tyre in the failure test implies the previous owner ignored tyre wear for some time. Check all four tyres for uneven wear, sidewall cracking from age, and correct pressures. With only 21,098 miles, suspension components like bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers should still be serviceable, but low-mileage cars can suffer from seized or perished rubber due to lack of use. Push-test the front end and look for weeping dampers. The clean passes from 2022 to 2024 suggest the car was well maintained earlier, but the 2025 failure points to a lapse in basic care that a thorough in-person inspection must verify.