2016 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · WR16 FVL

A clean three-year run of passes since March 2024 establishes a stable roadworthiness profile, but the full seven-test history contains a single failure and several advisories worth weighing. The 2021 test recorded a Major defect for an inoperative or malfunctioning Engine MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp), which caused the failure; although the vehicle subsequently passed the following day after the advisory items were addressed and the lamp issue apparently rectified, that episode stands as the only major non-compliance event on the record. Earlier advisories include a minor exhaust gas leak at the front joint noted in 2022, items obscuring the driver's view flagged twice in 2021, and slight cracking or perishing of the nearside rear tyre recorded in 2023. The most recent test on 6 March 2026 recorded no defects, suggesting the vehicle has settled into a steady pattern of compliance rather than presenting escalating concerns. With seven MOT tests spread across 2020 to 2026 on a recorded mileage of 24,317 miles, the annual accumulation works out at roughly 2,400 miles per year, which is markedly below typical usage for a ten-year-old city car. The mileage progression between tests is modest and consistent, indicating either genuine low usage or extended periods of standing rather than heavy commuter or motorway use. Mechanically, this profile tends to preserve major drivetrain components but can accelerate deterioration of rubber and polymer items, particularly tyres developing flat spots or sidewall cracking from prolonged static exposure, brake discs corroding on the inner and outer faces if the car sits damp, and suspension bushes perishing through lack of articulation. The 2023 advisory for a cracked or perished rear tyre is consistent with this pattern of age-related polymer degradation rather than wear from use. For a prospective buyer, the most relevant components to inspect are those historically flagged. The front exhaust joint that showed a minor gas leak in 2022 should be checked for fresh signs of carbon staining, hissing on a cold start, or a hanging section, as joints can weep again once disturbed or as mounting rubbers harden with age. The 2021 MIL failure warrants confirmation that the warning lamp illuminates with the ignition and extinguishes promptly on start-up, and that no dashboard indicators remain lit; a scan-tool read of stored fault codes would clarify whether the original issue was a sensor, wiring, or emissions-related fault. The nearside rear tyre flagged in 2023 should be examined closely for renewed sidewall cracking or bulging, and all four tyres should be checked for age-related crazing given the low annual mileage, as tyres over six years old with limited use are prone to perishing regardless of tread depth. On a road test, listen for any exhaust tick or whistle that intensifies under load, which would indicate the front joint seal has deteriorated further. Pay particular attention to brake feel during the first firm application from speed, as surface corrosion on the discs from standing can produce a judder or vibration through the pedal that often clears after a few stops but may point to lipping or uneven wear if persistent. Run the car through tight urban manoeuvres and over speed humps to detect any clonks, knocks, or vague steering that would suggest perished suspension bushes or top mounts, both of which are common on low-mileage Fiat 500s of this era. Finally, confirm that the engine management light performs a full bulb check at ignition and that no warning lamps linger, given the 2021 major defect history, and verify that the tyres fitted are not excessively aged replacements which would replicate the kind of perishing previously advisory.