2007 Ford KA 1.3L Petrol · CA07 AAX

As of the most recent test on 30 October 2024 at 80,606 miles the Ford Ka holds a valid MOT pass but carries advisories that confirm long standing structural and suspension concerns. The maintenance trend is not improving. One day earlier on 29 October 2024 the car failed with excessively worn front anti roll bar linkage ball joints, offside front Macpherson strut top mounting, offside front lower suspension arm ball joint and a split nearside front CV boot, all apparently rectified within twenty four hours to secure the pass. Corrosion to both rear inner sills first judged structurally significant at the subframe mountings in January 2023 remains visible as undersealed corrosion in the October 2024 advisory, showing deferred owner care. The mileage record reveals exceptionally low use for a nineteen year old vehicle. Between 20 January 2023 at 78,676 miles and 23 October 2023 at 78,693 miles the odometer advanced only seventeen miles across nine months, implying prolonged storage. By 29 October 2024 the reading stood at 80,602 miles, an average of roughly two thousand miles per year. Such standing invites corrosion and perishable degradation rather than drivetrain fatigue. A buyer must physically inspect the rear inner sills and subframe mountings for active rust penetration because the January 2023 test recorded excessive corrosion significantly reducing structural strength and October 2024 still notes corroded sills. The tester flagged worn trailing arm bushes and slight brake hose ferrule corrosion on both rear sides across three consecutive tests from 2023 to 2024, so examine those hoses and rear suspension bushes closely. Confirm the front suspension repairs from late October 2024 are genuine by checking anti roll bar linkages, CV boot condition and strut top mountings for new components. Engine oil leakage from rocker cover in January 2023 and a rear oil weep in October 2024 suggest aging seals left unaddressed. The 2023 failures on tyre sidewall tears then bulges and reduced rear shock damping indicate the previous owner skipped basic upkeep until forced by test rejection. Inspect rear shock absorbers for damping effect, the rear exhaust for minor gas leak noted in 2023, and front brake discs for pitting recorded at 78,693 miles. The pattern points to a vehicle cosmetically patched for sale rather than systematically maintained.