1994 FORD FIESTA1.1L PETROL

This 1994 Ford Fiesta last failed its MOT on 16 August 2014 at 89,566 miles, and there is no record of a subsequent pass. That failure was serious. The tester recorded a service brake efficiency below requirements, a worn and pitted front brake disc, a cracked offside headlamp glass, and excessive carbon monoxide in the exhaust emissions. Structurally, the nearside suspension mounting area and the offside seat belt anchorage were both flagged as excessively corroded, and the exhaust system was not adequately supported. The hazard warning switch was faulty and the nearside stop lamp was not working. The car has sat at the same recorded mileage for over a decade, and without a more recent pass certificate, its current roadworthiness status is unknown and likely poor. The mileage pattern tells a clear story of very light use followed by a long period of inactivity. Between the December 2011 pass at 81,410 miles and the August 2013 pass at 85,687 miles, the car covered roughly 4,277 miles in just under two years. Then, between August 2013 and the August 2014 failure, the odometer moved only from 85,687 to 89,566 miles, a jump of 3,879 miles. After that, the recorded mileage has remained frozen at 89,566 for over twelve years. This is not a vehicle that has been driven regularly. Long periods of standing can cause brake calipers to seize, tyres to perish, fuel to degrade, and moisture to accelerate corrosion in ways that short-distance driving does not. The recurring theme across this record is structural corrosion. Every test from 2011 onward mentions rusty inner sills, and the 2013 and 2014 failures both note that sills had been welded and coated, suggesting previous repair work that did not fully resolve the problem. The 2014 failure escalated this to excessive corrosion at a suspension mounting point and a seat belt anchorage, both of which are prescribed areas where corrosion is treated as a direct safety risk. A buyer should have the underside inspected on a lift, paying close attention to the sills, subframes, seat belt mounting points, and suspension mounting areas. Previous welding should be assessed for quality and integrity, not just cosmetic coverage. Beyond the structure, the mechanical advisories and failures point to deferred maintenance. Deteriorated CV joint gaiters, worn suspension arm brake bushes, parshing rear brake hoses, and a binding or inefficient braking system all suggest the car was not kept in good order before it was last tested. The cracked headlamp glass and faulty hazard switch are minor in isolation but add to a picture of neglect. Any inspection should include a thorough brake assessment, a check of all rubber bushes and gaiters, and a full emissions test. Given the length of time since the last MOT, a fresh inspection is essential before this car is considered roadworthy.