2018 Fiat Tipo 1.6L Diesel · YY18 YUL

The 2018 Fiat Tipo presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 1 December 2025 at 88,286 miles with zero defects recorded. That result is significant because it follows a failure just three weeks earlier on 6 November 2025 at 83,617 miles, where the tester flagged a non-functioning offside front headlamp on dipped beam, a failed daytime running lamp, and both front windscreen wiper blades defective. The fact that these faults were rectified before the December retest suggests the previous owner addressed basic electrical and visibility items promptly. No recurring mechanical or structural defects appear across the full record, which is a positive indicator of responsible upkeep. The mileage accumulation is consistent and unremarkable for an eight-year-old vehicle. Between the January 2023 test at 49,905 miles and the October 2023 test at 77,783 miles, the car covered 27,878 miles in roughly nine months, indicating a period of heavier use. From October 2023 to December 2025, the mileage increased by only 10,503 miles over more than two years, suggesting the vehicle saw lighter use or possible periods of standing during that later phase. The annualised average of roughly 11,000 miles sits within the typical range for this age bracket, and the MOT record shows no gaps that would raise concern about untested periods of heavy wear. A buyer inspecting this vehicle in person should focus on the front suspension and steering components. In the January 2023 test at 49,905 miles, the tester noted the nearside front upper anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated, a condition that can allow ingress of water and grit, accelerating wear of the joint itself. Although this did not reappear as a defect in subsequent tests, the joint and surrounding bushes should be checked for play or deterioration given the age and mileage. The offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and worn on edge in the same test hints at possible alignment or suspension geometry issues, so a thorough wheel alignment check and close inspection of tyre wear patterns are advisable. The headlamp and wiper blade faults from late 2025 were minor consumable items, but the offside lamp lens had a product on it noted in January 2023, so verifying the headlamp lens condition and light output remains worthwhile. No corrosion, exhaust emissions, or braking defects have been flagged, which is reassuring, though a test drive over varied surfaces will confirm whether the suspension remains tight and free of knocks.