2009 Ford Mondeo 2.2L Diesel · AF02 AGE

The defining mechanical story for this Mondeo is a recent tyre-related dangerous failure that was rectified within a day, alongside two Major defects recorded at the previous test which together point to brake hydraulic and engine management concerns rather than a uniformly clean roadworthiness picture. At the 2026-08-20 examination, both front tyres failed dangerously, with the nearside tread recorded below the legal 1.6 mm threshold and the offside tyre exhibiting exposed ply or cords alongside a sub-legal tread depth; a retest the following day recorded a clean pass, indicating the tyres were replaced in the interim. Stepping back to the 2024-09-10 test, the vehicle was failed on a leaking nearside front hydraulic brake calliper and an Engine MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) that was inoperative or indicating an engine fault on the dashboard, both classified as Major. The 2025-09-09 pass then only recorded a minor twisted offside front brake hose, so while the immediate post-failure retests cleared the immediate concerns, the recent MOT file contains dangerous tyre defects, a brake hydraulic leak, and an engine management warning, which collectively frame this as a car with active component wear rather than one with an unblemished record. Against an age of roughly seventeen years, the recorded 124,787 miles equates to around 7,340 miles per year, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a Mondeo of this generation. There is no evidence of extended off-road gaps in the testing history, with annual or near-annual MOT entries from 2024 onwards, suggesting the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for prolonged periods, which in turn means wear-related components such as brakes, tyres, suspension bushes and exhaust fittings have been subject to normal service-life fatigue rather than the deterioration associated with long static periods. The mileage accumulation between tests appears steady and consistent, supporting the impression of typical mixed private use rather than heavy commercial or high-mileage motorway operation. For a prospective buyer, the most pressing items to verify are the rectification of the dangerous tyre failures and the durability of the replacements, the condition of the brake hydraulic system following the calliper leak, and the resolution of the engine management warning. On a physical inspection, both front tyres should be examined for even wear across the tread face, as uneven shoulder wear can point to suspension geometry issues such as worn track rod ends, droplinks, or front subframe bush compliance that frequently develop on high-mileage Mondeos. The nearside front brake calliper area should be checked for fresh fluid residue, oily staining on the back of the wheel, and uneven pad wear, while the offside front brake hose noted as twisted should be inspected for cracking, swelling under pressure, and correct routing to prevent chafing against the suspension turret. On the road, the buyer should listen for any clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed humps and rough tarmac, feel for brake pedal pull or judder under firm application, and monitor the dashboard for the reappearance of the engine management lamp, including any stored fault codes that may still be present even if the bulb check sequence behaves normally. Additional checks should include a thorough under-bonnet examination for oil residue consistent with the advisory recorded on 2024-09-10, paying particular attention to the cam cover, sump gasket, and front crankshaft seal, as a persistent seep will mark the underside of the engine and lower chassis components over time. The exhaust system should be inspected for corrosion around the mounting brackets, downpipe flexi joint, and rear silencer, given the vehicle's age and mileage, while a road test should confirm steady cold and warm idle without misfires, hesitation, or excessive smoke from the tailpipe that could indicate ongoing engine management or fuelling concerns following the 2024 MIL inoperative defect. Finally, the rear brake drums or discs should be examined for binding calipers or seized handbrake mechanism, as these are common wear items on Mondeos of this vintage and frequently only become apparent on a hill-start test rather than during a static inspection.