2018 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Petrol · AV04 KAS

The 2018 Ford Fiesta’s most recent MOT, conducted just three months ago at 62,707 miles, passed without any recorded defects, indicating the vehicle currently meets DVSA’s roadworthiness standards. However, the preceding test history reveals a troubling pattern of recurring issues, particularly with tyres, brakes, and minor electrical faults. The trend is not improving—tyre perishing and brake wear persisted across multiple tests, suggesting either deferred maintenance or inconsistent servicing. The April 2025 failure alone listed four tyres as cracked or perishing, alongside critically thin brake pads (below 1.5mm), which would have rendered the vehicle unsafe to pass had they not been addressed before the retest. While the most recent pass suggests corrective work was performed, the frequency of these faults implies underlying neglect rather than isolated failures. The vehicle’s mileage progression of roughly 7,800 miles annually over eight years is typical for its age, but the MOT intervals reveal gaps that could mask deeper issues. The largest jump occurred between January 2024 (39,111 miles) and May 2024 (41,909 miles), a span of just four months—an unusually rapid accumulation that might correlate with the subsequent brake pad advisories. More concerning is the absence of any MOTs between April 2025 (52,675 miles) and April 2026 (62,707 miles), a full year without testing, which raises questions about whether critical components were overlooked during that period. The lack of service records in the MOT history further complicates assessment, as brake fluid changes, suspension servicing, and corrosion checks are not reflected. A prospective buyer should prioritise an immediate inspection of the tyres, particularly the offside rear and front, which were repeatedly flagged for perishing in 2024 and 2025. The rear brakes, including pads and discs, show a history of excessive wear—nearside and offside pads were below 1.5mm in 2025, and the 2024 test noted pitting on the discs, which could indicate inadequate lubrication or contamination. Suspension components, while not explicitly mentioned in the MOTs, warrant scrutiny given the vehicle’s age; bush wear or coil spring fatigue often coincides with brake and tyre issues. Structural corrosion, especially around wheel arches and sills, should also be checked, as it frequently correlates with tyre damage and poor handling. The electrical faults from 2025—stop and position lamps—are minor but suggest the vehicle may have had deferred attention to its lighting system.