2004 Ford Ranger 2.5L Diesel · YE04 AAY

The most recent DVSA examination dated 10 March 2026 resulted in a FAIL outcome, although notably the failure reasons themselves are not recorded, only a series of advisories concerning nearside and offside front tyres worn close to the legal limit, an offside rear tyre similarly worn, and slight play noted in both front wheel bearings. This should not be interpreted as a clean bill of health, as the failure means the vehicle was not issued a test certificate on that date and must have undergone remedial work before being returned to the road. Looking at the broader trajectory across the four recorded tests, the maintenance trend is clearly worsening rather than stable or improving. The November 2023 test pass carried advisories for oil leak, thinning front brake pads, and a corroded nearside front brake pipe, followed immediately by a fail the day before for a non-functioning rear fog lamp. By February 2025 the vehicle failed outright for a dangerous nearside front brake pad reading of less than 1.5 mm and a major defect on the nearside front inner drive shaft CV boot, and although it subsequently passed, further advisories were logged for anti-roll bar linkage wear and damaged rear shock absorber casings. The persistence of brake, suspension, and drivetrain advisories across consecutive tests points to a vehicle whose consumable and chassis components have not been proactively maintained. Against its 22-year build date, the recorded 109,188 miles equates to an annual average of approximately 4,963 miles, which is unusually low for a working vehicle of this type. Ford Rangers of this era were typically used as working or utility vehicles, and an annual figure well below the national average suggests either prolonged periods of standing, very occasional light use, or possible inconsistencies in the recorded mileage between tests. There are visible gaps in the MOT history with no recorded tests between November 2023 and February 2025, and between March 2025 and March 2026, which combined with the low annualised mileage raises the possibility of extended inactivity. Prolonged standing is mechanically detrimental even where recorded mileage is low, as it promotes brake disc corrosion, caliper seizure, tyre sidewall perishing, and degradation of fluids and rubbers purely through age rather than wear. For a prospective buyer, the recurring advisory pattern on front tyres being worn close to the legal limit and on edges suggests a persistent alignment or suspension geometry issue that has not been resolved, and a test drive should include careful listening for steering wander, uneven pulling to one side, or tramlining over uneven road surfaces, all of which would indicate worn suspension bushes or weakened coil springs consistent with the recorded anti-roll bar linkage wear and shock absorber casing damage. The slight play noted in both front wheel bearings at the most recent test warrants a physical check for any looseness or roughness when the front wheels are manually rocked at standstill, and any humming that varies with speed on the test drive would confirm progressive bearing wear. Given the dangerous brake pad reading at the February 2025 fail, the entire front braking system should be inspected for disc wear, caliper slide pin operation, and flexible hose condition, with attention to whether the nearside front brake pipe corrosion previously noted has been properly rectified or merely coated. The nearside front inner CV boot, recorded as severely deteriorated in 2023 and then failed as split and insecure in 2025, is a critical item that will have required replacement; any test drive should listen for clicking or knocking on full lock turns, which would indicate joint damage from grit ingress prior to boot renewal. In addition to the documented defects, the vehicle's age and low annual usage profile demands age-related inspection items that would not necessarily appear as MOT advisories. Tyres, even where tread depth remains legal, should be examined closely for sidewall cracking and perishing given the likelihood of older rubber compounds fitted to a low-mileage vehicle. Brake discs may exhibit heavy surface corrosion from standing, and the calipers should be checked for binding or seized pistons that could cause uneven pad wear or a dragging sensation on the test drive. The 12V battery is highly likely to be original or long-standing and should be load-tested, particularly given the extended gaps in usage. All fluid services including engine coolant, brake fluid, and gearbox and differential oils should be verified against calendar intervals rather than mileage, as these degrade through age irrespective of use. Finally, the persistent oil leak advisories from 2023 should be traced to confirm whether the source is a minor gasket or seal weep or something more significant such as a crankshaft seal or timing cover issue, and the absence of recent structural corrosion advisories should not preclude a thorough underbody examination given the vehicle's age and likely exposure to winter road treatments.