2014 Fiat 500 1.2L Petrol · YT64 NHJ

The 2014 Fiat 500 passed its most recent MOT on 1 September 2025 at 47,925 miles, but the record reveals a worsening trend in structural corrosion that demands caution. While the car has consistently passed each year, the tester flagged a corroded oil span pan, corroded rear axle, corroded exhaust system, and corrosion on both rear coil springs. These are not isolated cosmetic issues. They point to long-term exposure to moisture and salt, likely compounded by extended periods of standing. The vehicle remains legally roadworthy today, yet the pattern of corrosion advisories is deepening rather than resolving. At roughly 3,994 miles per year, this Fiat 500 has covered very low mileage for a 12-year-old car. The annual tests show only 2,987 miles added between August 2023 and September 2024, and then zero miles recorded between September 2024 and September 2025. That second gap is striking. A full year with no MOT retest and no mileage change suggests the car may have stood unused for long stretches. Low mileage can mask deferred maintenance. Components like rubber bushes, seals, and brake components deteriorate with age and lack of use just as much as with mileage. The 2024 failure at 44,938 miles exposed a serious leak from the nearside front shock absorber, excessively worn rear shock absorber bushes, a damaged offside rear brake cable, and a structural bulge in the offside front tyre. These faults appeared suddenly in the record and were rectified for the pass, but they hint at a car that was not being actively monitored or maintained between annual tests. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the underside and suspension. The repeated corrosion of both rear coil springs across multiple years, now joined by a corroded rear axle and corroded exhaust, raises questions about structural integrity beneath the car. Check the subframes, brake lines, and mounting points for advanced rust, particularly around the rear beam and spring seats. The 2024 advisories on front brake discs and pads, combined with fluctuating service brake performance flagged in both 2023 and 2024, suggest the braking system has seen uneven use. Inspect the front discs for lipping and scoring, and test the handbrake cables for free movement given the previous damage to the offside rear cable. The worn suspension arm bushes and leaking shock absorbers from late 2024 were repaired, but a bounce test and close visual check of the front struts and rear dampers remain essential to confirm the work was done properly. Tyre condition also warrants attention. The 2024 failure for a structural bulge in the offside front tyre indicates the car was driven on a compromised tyre, potentially after hitting a pothole or kerb. Uneven wear across all four wheels could point to the worn suspension bushes and arm pivots flagged in 2023. Finally, verify the exhaust system thoroughly. Corrosion advisories appeared in 2023 and again in 2025, with a minor exhaust leak noted in 2024. A visual check for blowing joints, holed sections, and rusted mounting brackets will confirm whether the system is holding together or approaching failure. This Fiat 500 is not a car to buy on mileage alone. Its low use has not protected it from age-related decay, and the record shows corrosion is advancing year on year.