2013 Fiat Panda 1.2L Petrol · YP63 XVT

A chronic pattern of steering and suspension wear dominates the roadworthiness record of this 2013 Fiat Panda, with the front-end geometry appearing in some form on every recorded test. The most recent examination on 24 February 2026 was a pass, but it carried five advisories including play in the nearside front steering rack inner joint, a non-excessive oil leak, light misting on the nearside front shock absorber, and perishing or cracking to both front tyres. That same steering rack inner joint advisory also appeared at the previous test in March 2025, indicating a persistent wear point that has not been rectified between MOTs. Two failures sit in the history: a windscreen wiper failure in March 2025 which was resolved on the same day, and a more serious failure in December 2023 for a major exhaust leak alongside a nearside suspension arm ball joint excessively worn. The recurrence of front suspension and steering component advisories across 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2026 points to a vehicle with ongoing chassis wear that has yet to escalate to a fail since the ball joint replacement, but has clearly not been resolved at component level. At 120,385 miles over approximately thirteen years, the Panda is accumulating around 9,260 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a car in regular commuter or local errand use. There are some notable gaps between tests, with no recorded examinations between November 2020 and December 2023, a three-year interval that suggests the vehicle may have either been exempt from MOT requirement for a period or simply not presented for testing. Given its age, an MOT would have been required annually from 2018 onwards, so this is an irregularity worth clarifying. The mileage accumulation implied by the gap from 2020 to 2023 is consistent with moderate continued use rather than long-term storage, although any prolonged standing periods can accelerate corrosion on the underbody and dry out rubber components such as gaiters and bushes. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection squarely on the front suspension and steering assembly, beginning with a road test to detect any knocking or clonking from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and during full-lock low-speed manoeuvres. Particular attention should be paid to the nearside front, where the steering rack inner joint play has been flagged twice and a ball joint was previously replaced; any looseness felt through the steering wheel, wandering at speed, or a clunk when transitioning from lock would suggest the wear has progressed beyond advisory level. The front tyres should be inspected for uneven shoulder wear, which often indicates worn suspension bushes or steering components, and the nearside front shock absorber examined for heavier oil seepage down the body of the unit beyond the light misting recorded. Brake-related items are the secondary focus, given the offside front brake binding advisory from March 2025 and the corroded front inner brake discs noted back in December 2021. On test, the buyer should listen for any scraping or grinding from the offside front caliper, check for a brake drag that causes the wheel to run warmer than the opposite side after driving, and verify the handbrake holds on an incline without requiring excessive lever travel. A visual inspection of the front discs via the wheel should confirm the corrosion noted in 2021 has not developed into lipping or scoring. Finally, the exhaust system should be checked for signs of the major leak previously recorded, listening for ticking at idle and examining joints and the front flexi section for soot staining, while the oil leak flagged in 2026 warrants a check of the engine and gearbox sump area for fresh weepage and a top-up history between services.