2016 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · CP16 FUD

This 2016 Ford Fiesta presents an unusually clean MOT history, with five consecutive annual passes stretching back to 2021 and not a single advisory or failure recorded across the entire sequence, including the most recent test on 27 August 2025. Such a defect-free run on a ten-year-old vehicle is uncommon and points to either consistently light use, careful preparation before each test, or simply a lack of wear-inducing conditions. The stability of the record from year to year suggests there has been no deterioration in any particular system whether suspension, braking, exhaust, or structure, that an examiner considered worth flagging. For a prospective buyer, this track record is reassuring at face value, although it does mean there is no historical MOT trail of advisories to guide a mechanical preview of marginal components. The recorded mileage of 21,174 miles against an age of around ten years equates to an annual accumulation of approximately 2,100 miles, which is well below the typical usage profile for a car of this type. Mileage progression appears remarkably linear, with no recorded gaps in testing history between 2021 and 2025, indicating the vehicle has remained in regular use and on the road throughout. Such low mileage has a dual mechanical implication: components subject to distance-based wear such as brake pads, discs, tyres, clutches, and engine internals will have experienced minimal functional degradation, but items that deteriorate with age and standing time such as rubber boots, bushes, drive belts, coolant hoses, and the 12V battery may have suffered from periods of inactivity. The absence of MOT defects over this span suggests no examiner flagged any age-related concerns, but the usage pattern still warrants focused inspection of those time-sensitive items rather than purely mileage-driven ones. Given that the MOT record is entirely free of advisories, the inspection priorities should shift toward symptoms that a standard MOT may not fully reveal. On a test drive, listen carefully for any clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps or uneven surfaces, paying particular attention to the strut top mounts and lower wishbone bushes, as Ford Fiestas of this era are known to develop play in these components well before any visible deterioration. Steering response should be precise with no looseness at the straight-ahead position, and any vibration through the wheel above 40 mph could indicate a perished front tyre sidewall or a worn wheel bearing, both plausible on a low-mileage car that may have stood with weight on ageing rubber. The brake pedal should feel firm with no excessive travel, and a pulling sensation under light or heavy braking would warrant closer inspection of the caliper slide pins, which can seize on vehicles that see infrequent use. The powertrain and ancillaries also merit targeted checks despite the clean paperwork. Listen for any rattle from the timing chain area on cold start, as the 1.0 EcoBoost and 1.25 Duratec engines fitted to this generation of Fiesta are not immune to chain stretch or tensioner wear, particularly if the oil has not been changed at sufficiently short intervals due to the low annual mileage. Inspect underneath for any oil misting around the cam cover or sump gasket, check coolant hoses for surface cracking where they flex over the engine, and confirm the coolant level is maintained in the expansion tank. A cold start with the bonnet open should reveal no obvious ticking from the exhaust manifold area or any smell of sweet coolant. Finally, examine the tyres closely for signs of cracking in the sidewalls or tread, as rubber aged ten years on a vehicle used so sparingly can perish regardless of remaining tread depth, and verify the spare or inflation kit is present and serviceable.