2012 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · AV61 WMM

Front suspension wear is the defining thread running through this Focus's recent history, and it has escalated rather than resolved. In January 2025 the nearside front coil spring was found fractured, contributing to a test failure alongside an inoperative direction indicator; by January 2026 both front lower suspension arm rear bushes were flagged, the offside one excessively worn to the point of a major defect, while the nearside equivalent remains an outstanding advisory on the pass certificate issued on 29 January 2026. That same January 2026 cycle also produced dangerous defects for both front inner brake pads worn below 1.5 mm and a headlamp aim failure, all rectified within eight days to secure the pass. The pattern across 2023 to 2026 is one of recurring front-end component wear being caught at test rather than prevented: brake pads flagged as wearing thin in 2024 were allowed to reach dangerous minimum thickness two years later, and a tyre worn close to the legal limit was noted across consecutive 2025 tests. At 132,891 miles over roughly fourteen years, the car has averaged about 9,500 miles annually, a typical accumulation rate with no significant gaps in the annual test record and no evidence of extended lay-up. This is consistent, regular use rather than unusually light or heavy service, which means the wear items flagged, namely front suspension bushes, coil spring, brake pads and tyres, are wearing at the rate expected for the mileage rather than prematurely. The 2023 failure is worth noting in this context: a binding offside rear brake, an inoperative parking brake on one side and below-requirement parking brake efficiency all point to rear brake mechanism deterioration, which was rectified for the retest pass six days later but indicates the rear braking hardware has needed intervention before. On a test drive, the priority is the front suspension. With both lower arm rear bushes flagged and only the offside one replaced to clear the January 2026 failure, listen for knocking or clonking from the nearside front over bumps and when braking, and feel for vagueness or shimmy through the steering under braking, as a worn rear bush on the remaining arm will deteriorate toward another failure. Check that the replacement coil spring has not left the car sitting unevenly, and confirm the steering tracks straight without pull, which would also verify the corrected headlamp aim was not masking an alignment issue. The braking system warrants equal scrutiny given its history on both axles. Pedal feel should be firm and progressive with no judder, and after a short drive check that neither rear wheel runs hot or smells of binding, given the 2023 offside rear seizure; test the handbrake holds securely on an incline since parking brake efficiency has failed before. Finally, the central exhaust silencer had a minor gas leak noted in 2025, so listen for blowing or rasping from under the car on a cold start, and confirm the slow-retracting offside front seat belt noted in 2026 actually feeds and retracts correctly, as that advisory remains open on the current certificate.