FORD FOCUS2007 · 1.6L Diesel

The Ford Focus remains roadworthy after a passing test on 20 December 2024 at 134,071 miles, but the maintenance trend is worsening. Two days earlier on 18 December 2024 the car failed at 134,052 miles with both rear coil springs fractured and heavy corrosion to the rear axle and components. The subsequent pass required those springs to be replaced yet carried advisories for reduced damping in both front shock absorbers, pitted rear brake discs and unchanged heavy corrosion. Earlier records show a slide from light front shock misting in November 2021 to pronounced damping loss, alongside creeping brake disc wear and persistent tyre edge wear. The odometer climbed from 117,609 miles at the 16 November 2021 test to 122,648 miles by 21 November 2022, then 127,436 miles on 15 November 2023 and 134,052 miles at the 18 December 2024 failure. That equates to roughly 5,000 to 6,600 miles per year, a typical low to moderate usage for a 19 year old vehicle. No significant gaps appear in the annual testing though the absence of records before late 2021 leaves early life unverified. Light annual mileage combined with heavy rear axle corrosion suggests the car may have stood outdoors or on salted roads without underseal care. A prospective buyer must physically examine the rear axle and its mountings for structural rust penetration, as testers rated corrosion heavy across all components in both December 2024 tests. Verify the replacement of both rear coil springs and check for correct seating. The front shock absorbers showed reduced damping effect, so a road test should confirm controlled bounce and absence of oil leak. All four brake discs have now been flagged worn or pitted between 2023 and 2024, requiring thickness measurement and inspection for lip formation. Recurring near side and off side rear tyre edge wear from 2022 through 2023 points to neglected alignment or suspension geometry, though the 2024 pass omitted tyre advisories implying renewal. The pattern of failing only after broken springs and carrying forward corrosion indicates previous owners addressed faults reactively at test rather than proactively. Inspect suspension bushes and brake calipers for binding, and commission a ramp inspection of the subframe before purchase.