1996 FORD MONDEO1.8L PETROL

The vehicle presents a significant roadworthiness risk due to a complete lack of MOT testing for over twelve years. The last recorded test occurred in May 2014 at 119,268 miles, meaning the car has not undergone a formal safety inspection in a decade. Prior to this gap, the maintenance trend showed signs of reactive repair, with multiple failures related to braking efficiency and suspension components. The absence of recent data makes the current state of the structural integrity and safety-critical systems entirely unknown and potentially hazardous. The recorded mileage of 119,268 miles is remarkably low for a thirty-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 4,000 miles per year. However, the data shows a concerning stagnation between 2010 and 2014, where the car covered only 12,916 over four years. Such low usage often leads to the degradation of rubber-based components, seized calipers, and internal corrosion within fluid lines, which aligns with the history of deteriorating brake and steering pipes noted in the earlier records. A physical inspection must focus on the structural integrity of the chassis and the condition of the braking system. The history highlights recurring issues with corroded offside front and nearside rear brake pipes, as well as power steering hoses. Given the age and the long hiatus, the buyer should check for deep structural rust on the sills and floor pans where sharp edges were previously noted. The anti-roll bar ball joints and suspension arm bushes, which triggered failures in 2014, require thorough checking for perished rubber or play that inevitably occurs during long periods of inactivity.