2008 Ford KA 1.3L Petrol · AB08 BTH

A serious structural corrosion issue sits at the centre of this Ford Ka's MOT history and must be the starting point for any prospective buyer. The 2021 test produced three Major defects, all linked to the rear inner and outer suspension mounting areas on the sill, where excessive corrosion was deemed to significantly reduce structural strength. These are not minor advisories; they represent areas of the bodyshell that support suspension loadings and, on a car now eighteen years old, raise immediate concerns about long-term integrity around the rear turrets and inner sill seams. Three days later the vehicle returned and passed, suggesting repair work was carried out between the two tests, but the underlying corrosion pattern is consistent with a chassis that has been exposed to the elements for many years and may continue to deteriorate from the inside out. By contrast, earlier tests in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 produced either clean passes or only minor advisories, and there is no record of structural corrosion being flagged before 2021, which indicates the issue developed relatively late in the car's life rather than being a long-standing defect. With 59,023 miles accumulated over approximately eighteen years, this Ka averages around 3,279 miles annually, a notably low figure that suggests the vehicle has either seen very light use or has spent extended periods off the road. The MOT record supports this, as there is a complete absence of testing between November 2021 and the present date in 2026, meaning the car has not been examined under MOT conditions for at least five years. Such a gap is highly relevant because the rear sill corrosion identified in 2021 has had five additional years to progress, particularly given that low-mileage vehicles are often more susceptible to standing-water ingress in sills, boxed sections, and suspension mounting areas. Mechanically, low annual mileage typically preserves the engine, gearbox, and interior but does nothing to arrest oxidation of the underbody, and on a Ka of this vintage the rear axle mounting points, handbrake mechanism, fuel lines, and brake pipes running along the underfloor are all vulnerable to the same corrosive environment that produced the 2021 Majors. The brake-related entries in 2017 are also worth close attention, as both front inner brake discs were failed for being seriously weakened, with pitting and scoring noted again on the front discs in 2020. A prospective buyer should thoroughly inspect the current discs for lipping, hot spots, and surface corrosion, and check that the caliper slides move freely without binding, as seized calipers are a common Ka issue. On a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding from the front wheels, particularly on light brake application, and feel for pedal pulsation that would indicate disc run-out. The 2021 advisories for play in the nearside steering rack inner joint and a slightly distorted offside front road wheel also warrant direct inspection; on the move, the buyer should feel for any knocking through the steering wheel over uneven surfaces, vagueness around the straight-ahead position, or vibration through the nearside front wheel when braking, any of which would suggest the joint has worsened or that the distorted rim is now affecting tyre wear. Finally, the exhaust advisory recorded in 2017 for central corrosion, combined with the structural concerns, makes a thorough underfloor examination essential rather than optional. The car should be placed on a ramp and the rear inner and outer sills, rear suspension mounting points, fuel and brake lines, and the full length of the exhaust system inspected for perforation, flaking scale, and bubbling under the paint. Pay particular attention to the areas immediately around the rear spring seats, as these correspond directly to the prescribed areas where the 2021 Majors were issued. The exhaust should be checked for blowing at the centre joint and rear box, with attention to whether any previous repair has been poorly executed. Given the multi-year absence of MOT testing, a compression test or at minimum a careful listen for timing chain rattle, misfire, or excessive smoke on start-up would be prudent, as low-mileage Ka engines can suffer from oil sealing deterioration and oil misting around the cam cover when standing unused. Any hesitation to allow such inspection should itself be treated as a serious concern.