2011 Ford Fiesta 1.6L Diesel · AY11 EWM

The 2011 Ford Fiesta currently holds a valid MOT pass dated 3 March 2026 at 84,279 miles, but the maintenance trend is not straightforwardly improving. The same test session produced a fail followed by a pass on the same day, indicating a reactive repair rather than proactive upkeep. The tester flagged a corroded front sub-frame, worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage bushes, and corroded front coil springs on both sides. None of these were deemed serious enough to fail the car, yet their presence on a sub-90,000-mile vehicle suggests long-term exposure to moisture or underseal neglect rather than high-mileage wear. The rear brake imbalance that caused the initial fail was rectified before the pass, but the underlying cause, whether sticking calipers, uneven disc wear, or a perished flexible hose, is not documented. The mileage profile is notably low for a fifteen-year-old car. Annual use averages roughly 5,619 miles, which is well below the UK typical range of 8,000 to 12,000. The record shows a jump of 3,406 miles between March 2024 at 76,856 miles and March 2025 at 80,262 miles, then a further 4,017 miles to the March 2026 test. This acceleration could indicate a change of owner or use pattern. The 2025 test at 80,261 miles failed on a worn nearside track rod end and excessive rear axle bush movement on both sides, both classic symptoms of a car that has sat idle for extended periods, allowing rubber components to perish and joints to deteriorate from lack of lubrication cycling. The clean pass in 2024 at 76,856 miles suggests the car was in better mechanical order before that 2025 failure cluster. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front sub-frame corrosion, particularly around the rear mounting points and jacking points, where structural weakening is most likely to develop. The corroded front coil springs warrant close scrutiny for cracking or sag, as a spring failure at speed is sudden and dangerous. The rear axle bushes flagged in 2025 may have been replaced, but the buyer should check for fresh component finishes or uneven rubber compression that would confirm recent work. The rear brake imbalance history demands a road test under firm braking to confirm even deceleration without pulling, and a visual check of disc thickness variation and caliper slide pin operation. The anti-roll bar linkage wear, while minor, should be retested after a few hundred miles to confirm it has not worsened since the March 2026 pass.