2008 Ford Mondeo 2.0L Petrol · AK08 AEP

The vehicle shows a history of recurring mechanical failures, primarily concentrated around the suspension and braking systems. The most recent MOT test recorded in May 2023 at 172,009 miles passed, but it followed a failure just one month prior. That April failure highlighted critical issues including an excessive power steering hydraulic leak, an exhaust leak, and brake pads worn below the legal limit. While the May 2023 test cleared these items, the tester still noted a worn nearside rear trailing arm bush, suggesting that the rear suspension components are reaching the end of their service. At 172,009 miles over 18 years, the car has maintained a consistent average of approximately 9,500 miles per year. The record indicates a period between 2014 and 2019 where the vehicle passed inspections with no recorded defects. However, the frequency of failures increased significantly as the mileage surpassed 120,000. The persistent appearance of worn anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, suspension arm bushes, and shock absorbers indicates that the rubber components and mechanical joints are suffering significant degradation due to age and high mileage. A buyer should be wary of the power steering system, which has progressed from slight seepage in 2022 to an excessive leak in 2023. The exhaust system has also shown a trend of deterioration, with flexi-pipe and mounting issues noted across multiple years. Given that the last test was over three years ago, the current roadworthiness of the tyres, brakes, and suspension is unknown. A thorough physical inspection of the rear trailing arm bushes and the integrity of the exhaust manifold is required to ensure previous faults have not worsened since the 2023 certification.