2009 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · BV09 BZX

A pattern of recurring front brake and suspension wear, alongside two sets of dangerous brake-related defects, defines the mechanical history of this 2009 Ford Fiesta. The most recent test on 14 October 2025 was a pass, but it carried advisories for both front tyres being worn close to the legal limit and on edge, plus slightly worn rear axle swivel pins and bushes on both sides. Earlier, on 19 July 2024, the vehicle passed with similar advisories, but that pass came only after a failed test four days earlier on 15 July 2024 citing a fractured nearside front coil spring, and an earlier failure on 24 June 2024 flagged dangerous defects including both front brake discs seriously weakened by corrosion with the nearside disc described as thin on its inner face, nearside front inner brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick, and an inoperative rear fog lamp. A further failure on 14 February 2022 recorded a non-functioning offside stop lamp, offside rear position lamp, insufficient windscreen washer supply, a faulty nearside registration plate lamp, and an offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer sealing against dirt ingress. The 2023 test on 14 February 2023 was a clean pass with no defects recorded, which sits in contrast to the surrounding years. Taken together, the record shows a vehicle that has passed its tests but has produced a series of advisories and several failures, with the most serious concerns clustering around front braking components, front tyres, rear axle bushes, and front suspension coil springs. Mileage accumulation on this Fiesta stands at 130,598 miles over approximately 17 years, which equates to a roughly typical annual rate of around 7,682 miles per year. The recorded mileage is not unusually low or high for a 2009 vehicle of this class, and the test-to-test gaps do not suggest any extended periods off the road; tests appear at intervals consistent with continuous use. The mechanical implication of this usage profile is steady, moderate wear rather than the accelerated consumable and suspension degradation typically associated with very high-mileage examples or the component seizing and fluid degradation more often seen on low-use vehicles left standing for prolonged spells. The recent mileage progression between tests is consistent, with no recorded anomalies. For a prospective buyer, the most pressing items to investigate are the front brake discs, pads, and the rear axle swivel pins and bushes, all of which have appeared repeatedly across recent tests. A test drive should include firm brake applications from moderate speed to check for pedal judder, which would suggest the front discs are again suffering from corrosion or lipping as recorded in June 2024, and a careful listen for any grinding or squeal that could indicate pad material running low. On a quiet stretch, sharp left and right lock should be performed at low speed to listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension, which could indicate worn anti-roll bar linkage ball joints as flagged in February 2022, while driving over uneven surfaces should be used to detect any knocking or looseness from the rear axle bushes noted in both 2024 and 2025. The nearside front coil spring that fractured in July 2024 is a critical replacement item, and any loss of ride height, uneven stance, or clonking over bumps at the front could indicate a repeat failure or a non-OE specification replacement. Tyres warrant particular scrutiny given that front edge wear was flagged in 2021, 2024, and 2025, suggesting a possible tracking or suspension geometry issue rather than simple age-related wear. All four tyres should be inspected for uneven shoulder wear, and a steering pull test during the drive should be carried out to rule out geometry concerns. The rear fog lamp, stop lamps, and position lamp failures recorded in 2022 should each be verified as functional at the time of inspection, as lamp failures are typically inexpensive to remedy but can result from underlying wiring faults rather than simply bulb failure. Finally, the items removed from the driver's view prior to the 2025 test should be clarified with the seller to confirm that no aftermarket modifications are obscuring structural or safety-related components from the standard inspection points.