2018 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · WP67 HVM

The 2018 FIAT 500 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent test on 7 January 2026 at 37,443 miles passed, but only after a failure the previous day at 37,441 miles. That failure flagged an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, a significant structural wear item, alongside a parking brake efficiency deficiency. The immediate pass suggests these were rectified, yet the recurrence of front brake pad wear advisories across three consecutive tests from February 2023 through January 2026 indicates a persistent pattern of consumable neglect. The parking brake issue, noted as "only just met" in both February 2024 and February 2023, further suggests the braking system has received only minimal corrective attention rather than thorough servicing. The mileage profile is notably low at approximately 4,680 miles per year over eight years. The record shows a gap of nearly one year between February 2024 at 27,995 miles and January 2025 at 32,061 miles, a jump of roughly 4,000 miles in that period. From January 2025 to January 2026, the car accumulated just 5,382 miles, consistent with light urban use. The sparse testing history, with only five recorded tests since 2023, limits the depth of analysis, but the data available shows no evidence of high-mileage stress on the drivetrain or suspension beyond the one ball joint failure. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and braking components. The worn lower suspension arm ball joint identified in the January 2026 failure raises questions about the condition of the nearside equivalent and the track rod ends, as these components typically wear in tandem. Check for uneven tyre wear, particularly inner edge scrub, which would confirm misalignment following the ball joint replacement. The repeated front brake pad advisories mean the discs should be measured for thickness and scoring, as pads wearing consistently thin suggest either aggressive driving or a binding caliper. Examine the parking brake mechanism, including cables and rear adjusters, given the recurring marginal efficiency readings. Finally, inspect the subframes and suspension mounting points for corrosion, a common concern on small city cars that may have stood idle for extended periods between short journeys.