2016 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · CF16 FBG

The 2016 Ford Fiesta presents a mechanical profile dominated by recurring suspension and wheel assembly failures across several years, punctuated by a single low-mileage passing test in early 2025. Two distinct major failures occurred on the same day in September 2023 involving rear coil springs—an offside rear coil fracture followed by a subsequent test pass—but the earlier failure remains a critical indicator of underlying structural weakness in the rear suspension geometry. A prior advisory in August 2021 noted near-side front outer tyres worn close to legal limits, suggesting irregular driving patterns or inconsistent maintenance attention during that period. While the most recent MOT on 2025-04-17 returned passed with an advisory regarding rear axle bushes, the cumulative pattern of suspension component breakdowns indicates ongoing reliability concerns despite the current clean status. With 19,828 miles recorded on a ten-year-old vehicle, the average annual accumulation sits at approximately 1,983 miles per year—a figure substantially lower than typical usage for a model of this age and raises questions about the actual driving history versus potential storage periods. The gap between the 2022-08-05 failure and the 2023-09-04 failure spans less than a month, yet the subsequent failure in mid-2023 and the 2025 pass suggest intermittent stress cycles rather than steady degradation. Notably, there is no continuous recording of every service interval, creating uncertainty about whether the 19,828-mile figure represents genuine operational distance or includes significant idle or lay-up periods where the engine may have been running but not producing measurable wear. This discrepancy warrants a closer examination of how the odometer was maintained throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. Focused inspection should begin with the rear axle bushes, as the 2025 MOT advised their wear and their condition will determine whether the chassis undergoes progressive flexing under load; listen for clunking noises when traversing uneven pavement and feel for excessive play in the rear swingarm articulation. The history of fractured rear coil springs—both near-side and off-side—means the suspension’s primary load-bearing elements have experienced catastrophic failure events; verify that the replacement parts are original specification and that the entire rear subframe shows no signs of rust penetration that could compromise mounting integrity. Additionally, confirm the front outer tyres meet legal width specifications and inspect tread depth with particular attention to edges, since the 2021 advisory indicated they were worn close to the legal minimum, potentially indicating gradual degradation over the preceding years. Given the unusually low mileage combined with documented suspension failures, the buyer should consider whether the vehicle has spent extended periods parked, which can mask developing issues such as corroded subframe bolts or seized pivot points that produce subtle handling anomalies. A test drive should include gentle acceleration through speed bumps and curbs to detect any knocks from worn bushings, while simultaneously monitoring brake pad wear and rotor condition for uneven contact resulting from prior coil spring damage. Finally, verify that all previous service records align with the MOT history presented here, particularly the timing of the 2021 tyre advisory and the 2022-2023 coil spring failures, to ensure the vehicle has not accumulated additional undocumented damage that would not appear in the official record.