2004 Ford Mondeo 2.5L Petrol · AF04 NCV

The vehicle remains roadworthy but the maintenance record shows a worsening trend regarding structural and suspension-related corrosion. In the most recent test in April 2025 at 116,680 miles, the tester identified play in both front suspension arm ball joints and deteriorated rear arm bushes. This follows findings from the 2024 test where corroded rear suspension arms and worn anti-roll bar linkage ball joints were already flagged. While the car continues to pass, the recurring nature of these defects indicates that components are reaching the end of their functional life. At 22 years old, the recorded mileage of 116,680 miles represents a low annual average of approximately 5,300 miles. There is a significant gap in the data between September 2021 and April 2022, where the vehicle covered only 199 miles in seven months. Since then, usage has increased more consistently, covering over 40,000 miles between 2022 and 2025. This low-mileage profile often leads to accelerated degradation of rubber components and surface corrosion due to the vehicle sitting stationary for extended periods. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the vehicle underside and brake system integrity. The 2021 record highlighted corrosion on multiple brake pipes and rear suspension spring mountings, which has now evolved into general underside corrosion by 2025. Specific attention should be paid to the structural integrity of the chassis and mounting points to ensure the rust has not progressed beyond surface level. The front suspension arm ball joints and rear bushes require immediate attention to maintain safe steering geometry and to prevent a mechanical failure before the next MOT test.