2016 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · AX65 EYB

A recurring pattern of minor front-end wear defines this 2016 Ford Fiesta's record, with the nearside front road wheel flagged as slightly distorted across three separate tests spanning 2022 to 2026, and the most recent June 2026 pass adding fresh advisories for slight play in the offside front suspension arm ball joint and a perishing offside rear tyre. The overall trend is stable rather than worsening: every test since 2023 has resulted in a pass, and the single recorded failure in November 2022 was confined to ineffective windscreen wipers on both sides and an incorrectly aimed offside headlamp, all of which were rectified promptly with a clean pass following in 2023. Nothing in the history points to structural corrosion, brake system defects, or emissions problems, which is encouraging for a car of this age. Recorded mileage stands at 55,740 miles after roughly a decade, averaging around 5,574 miles per year, which is low for a Fiesta of this vintage. The test cadence is consistent, with annual examinations each spring or early summer and no unexplained gaps, suggesting continuous use rather than extended lay-up. Light annual mileage typically means less wear on brake components, clutch, and drivetrain, though the recurring tyre perishing advisory fits a car that covers modest distances, as rubber degrades with age as much as with use. The distorted front wheel appearing repeatedly since 2022 also suggests a long-standing impact-related deformation that has never been corrected, rather than fresh damage. On a test drive, the priority is the front suspension and wheels. With slight play now recorded in the offside front suspension arm ball joint, listen for a light knock or clunk over broken surfaces and speed bumps, and feel for any looseness or vagueness through the steering at low speed. The distorted nearside front wheel may transmit a subtle vibration or shimmy through the steering wheel at motorway speeds even when correctly balanced, so hold a steady 60 to 70 mph and note any rhythmic tremor or the car wandering slightly off line. Check also for uneven front tyre wear, which would indicate the ball joint play or wheel distortion is affecting geometry. Before purchase, inspect the offside rear tyre closely, as cracking and perishing has now been flagged in two consecutive tests and replacement is likely due regardless of remaining tread depth. Confirm the 2022 wiper and headlamp aim repairs are holding by testing the wipers on a wet screen for clean, streak-free sweeps and checking both headlamps illuminate evenly without one beam pointing high or off to the side. Budget for a replacement front wheel, a new offside rear tyre, and likely a front suspension arm or ball joint in the near term; none of these are major expenses on a Fiesta, and with an otherwise clean record of passes and no corrosion or brake advisories, the car presents as a fundamentally sound, lightly used example with a short list of inexpensive rectifications.