2013 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · B26 BAY

The 2013 Ford Fiesta presented for inspection carries a current and valid MOT pass issued on 6 July 2026 with no defects or advisories recorded at the most recent test, representing the cleanest result in the documented history. However, the broader trend across the past five years reveals a recurring pattern of advisories rather than a single isolated event, with oil leakage from the engine and front brake disc wear being noted almost annually from 2020 through 2024. A single failure on 10 June 2023 was issued against the previous test's advisories rather than new dangerous defects, and the vehicle subsequently passed on 20 June 2023, suggesting a pattern of accumulating wear items being carried forward between tests. The 2026 pass is therefore encouraging but should be viewed alongside the consistent advisory history rather than as confirmation of a wholly trouble-free mechanical condition. Against an age of approximately thirteen years and a recorded odometer reading of 102,488 miles, the vehicle averages around 7,884 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a supermini of this vintage and consistent with mixed urban and occasional longer-distance driving. There are no significant gaps in the MOT record that would imply long periods of standing, which is favourable for avoiding standing-related deterioration such as brake caliper seizure, exhaust corrosion, and brake disc pitting from lack of use. The mileage progression between tests is steady and plausible, with no suspicious gaps that might indicate clock discrepancies, and the cumulative wear on consumable items such as front brake discs and pads aligns naturally with this annual mileage accumulation. Given the persistent advisory for an oil leak recorded at every MOT from 2020 through 2024, a prospective buyer should inspect the underside and engine bay for signs of oil contamination on the sump, timing cover, and rocker cover gasket, as well as for fresh drips on the driveway or garage floor. While the leak has been consistently assessed as not excessive, it warrants visual confirmation that the oil level is being maintained between services, and the source should be identified and rectified to prevent eventual failure or catalytic converter damage from oil contamination. On a test drive, listen for any ticking from the top end of the engine on cold start, watch for blue smoke from the exhaust on warm-up, and monitor for an illuminated oil level warning or low‑oil message on the dashboard, all of which would suggest the leak has worsened beyond MOT advisory thresholds. The brake-related items recorded across multiple tests, including pitted and scored front discs, thin front pads, and an offside front tyre noted as worn close to the legal limit in 2025, point towards front-end wear consistent with the mileage and the typical kerbing and braking forces experienced by a front-driven supermini. A physical inspection should confirm the current brake disc thickness using a micrometer or by visual edge measurement, check pad material remaining, and assess the tyres for both legal tread depth and even wear across the tread face, as inner or outer edge wear would suggest an underlying geometry or suspension issue. Both rear coil springs were noted as corroded in 2020 and 2021, so close attention should be paid to any knocking or clunking from the rear over uneven road surfaces, any visible cracking or flaking of the spring coils, and the condition of the rear shock absorbers for signs of fluid leakage. Additionally, given the vehicle's age, attention should be given to time-based degradation including the 12V battery health, coolant and brake fluid replacement schedules, and any perishing or cracking of the tyre sidewalls which can occur regardless of tread depth on a thirteen-year-old car.