2002 Ford Puma 1.7L Petrol · TH51 DER

A pattern of recurring front and rear suspension wear, alongside chronic minor oil leakage and corrosion on the brake hydraulic system, defines the mechanical profile of this 2002 Ford Puma. Across the available DVSA history from 2017 through 2024, the nearside front upper Macpherson strut pin or bush has been flagged at every single test where it could be inspected, appearing on the 2021, 2022, and 2024 records, while the offside rear equivalent escalated to a major failure in February 2023 due to excessive wear. The brake hydraulic system shows a similar progressive degradation, moving from minor rear pipe surface corrosion in 2017, to a corroded nearside rear brake pipe in 2020, to corroded rear brake hose ferrules by 2024. A persistent oil leak, classified as not excessive under item 8.4.1 (a) (i), has been recorded at the last three tests in 2023 and 2024, and the 2023 attempt failed outright on a non-functioning offside front position lamp and the aforementioned strut mount. The most recent test on 28 February 2024 passed, but the sheer volume and repetition of advisories indicate a vehicle requiring ongoing remedial attention rather than one in settled mechanical condition. The recorded mileage of 108,682 miles over a 24-year service life equates to an annual accumulation of approximately 4,528 miles, which is well below average for a car of this age. However, the MOT testing record is not continuous, with a notable gap between December 2017 and December 2020, suggesting either an extended period off the road, an exemption from testing as a pre-1980 vehicle, or simply non-submission for MOT during that interval. Low annual mileage of this nature typically reduces wear on high-cycle components such as the clutch, interior trim, and major engine internals, but it can accelerate degradation of rubber and polymer items through age-hardening rather than use. This directly aligns with the perished nearside front tyre flagged in 2020 and 2021, the deteriorating headlamp lenses noted across multiple tests, and the general corrosion observed on exposed ferrous components like the brake pipes and hose ferrules. A prospective buyer should focus their physical inspection on the front and rear suspension assemblies, as the Macpherson strut top mount pins and bushes have been the most consistently flagged items. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and feel for vagueness or juddering through the steering wheel under braking, which would suggest the strut top mounts are no longer controlling movement within acceptable limits. Inspect the rear axle bushes, which were noted as worn in 2021 and 2022, by rocking the rear of the car laterally and looking for delayed response or shuddering. Underneath the vehicle, the brake pipes and rear flexible hose ferrules warrant close examination for live corrosion, blistering of any protective grease coating, or visible weeping of brake fluid, as these components have shown a clear downward trajectory from 2017 through 2024. The engine bay should be inspected for the source of the persistent oil leak, which has been recorded at three consecutive tests. Check the underside of the engine and gearbox for wet patches or fresh oil residue on the sump, cam cover gasket, and any associated pipework. The nearside front inner CV boot was noted as slightly leaking grease in 2023, so examine the CV joint rubber for splits and feel for any clicking or vibration through the steering when turning at low speed. Finally, verify the operation of all exterior lighting, particularly the offside front position lamp which caused a previous failure, and inspect the rear wheel bearings by rotating the wheels with the car jacked and listening for any rumbling or grinding, as the nearside rear bearing was noted as slightly noisy in 2024 following an offside rough bearing failure in 2022.