2012 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · BN12 YEC

The 2012 Ford Fiesta holds a current MOT issued on 13 April 2026 at 90,554 miles, but the maintenance trend is mixed rather than reassuring. The most recent test required a first-time failure on the same day due to a structurally torn offside rear tyre and a deep cut exposing the ply on the nearside rear tyre, both serious tyre integrity defects that the tester flagged as dangerous. The pass issued later that day confirms these were replaced, yet the underlying pattern of recurring wear and deterioration suggests a vehicle that has been kept running rather than proactively maintained. Front brake discs have appeared as worn, pitted, or scored in every test from March 2024 through April 2026, indicating either aggressive driving, poor-quality replacement components, or extended intervals between brake servicing. The offside front track rod end ball joint has carried slight play since at least April 2026, and the offside front upper anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover was severely deteriorated at the most recent test, pointing to degraded rubber bushes and exposed joints that will accelerate wear if left unaddressed. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with light-to-moderate use for a fourteen-year-old vehicle. Recorded miles moved from 82,936 in March 2024 to 86,939 in March 2025, a gain of 4,003 miles over twelve months, then jumped to 90,554 by April 2026, adding 3,615 miles in roughly thirteen months. This equates to approximately 6,500 miles per year, which is typical for a small urban or suburban car and does not raise concerns about long periods of standing or unusually rapid accumulation. The MOT history itself is well-documented with annual tests and no significant gaps, giving a reliable picture of the vehicle's mechanical trajectory over the past three years. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering components, given the recurring advisories around track rod ends, suspension arm ball joints, and anti-roll bar linkage covers. The fractured offside front coil spring and excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint flagged in the March 2025 failure were apparently rectified, but the reappearance of ball joint and track rod wear in 2026 suggests these may have been replaced with parts of limited longevity or that the geometry is placing uneven loads on the front end. Request evidence of the coil spring and ball joint replacements and check for uneven tyre wear, which the record confirms has been present on the front pair. The front brake discs deserve close scrutiny as well; repeated pitting and scoring across multiple tests without a documented disc replacement raises the question of whether the discs have simply been repeatedly assessed as borderline rather than renewed. Inspect the inner faces directly and measure thickness against Ford's minimum specification. The exhaust back box carried a slight blow at the most recent test, and the rear registration plate was deteriorated, both minor items but indicative of a vehicle where small defects are being noted rather than preemptively corrected. The rear tyres failed structurally in April 2026, which is a consumable issue but one that, combined with the front inner-edge wear, suggests either incorrect tyre pressures, worn suspension geometry, or neglect of routine checks. Have the rear suspension bushes, dampers, and wheel alignment inspected, and budget for a full front-end refresh including discs, pads, track rod ends, and anti-roll bar links if no recent invoices are available.