2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Diesel · CP59 PCY

Chronic lighting defects and a dangerous tyre failure define the mechanical narrative of this sixteen-year-old Ford Fiesta, and the most recent DVSA visit on 23 March 2026 only confirmed that the pattern of wear continues. After a straight pass on 6 January 2025 with no advisories, the vehicle returned in early 2026 carrying three major lighting failures — a missing rear fog lamp unit, an inoperative nearside front position lamp, and a non-functioning nearside rear stop lamp — that saw it fail on 16 March 2026 before passing just seven days later once those items were remedied. Underneath the lighting problems, the same advisory items persisted from the failure to the subsequent pass: play in the offside front steering rack inner joint and front brake pads noted as wearing thin. The earlier 4 January 2024 test had already produced two dangerous defects for exposed ply or cords on both front tyres, meaning a serious safety failure occurred only two years ago and tyre condition has remained a recurring theme across four consecutive tests. Together these results suggest a vehicle whose consumables — particularly tyres, brake friction material, and rear coil springs flagged as corroded on both sides in March 2026 — are reaching the limits of their service life at this mileage. The recorded mileage of 159,986 miles across roughly sixteen years equates to an annual accumulation of close to 10,000 miles, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and segment. There is one significant testing gap worth noting: the record jumps from 15 December 2020 directly to 4 January 2024, indicating the Fiesta was either off the road or untested for approximately three years. Standing idle for that length of time is mechanically relevant, as it can accelerate corrosion of brake components, seize calipers, degrade brake fluid, and allow the 12V battery to sulphate, particularly on a vehicle of this vintage where rubber and electrical components are already ageing. The remaining gaps between tests are short and consistent with steady annual use rather than sporadic or intermittent running. Front inner-edge tyre wear has been flagged on both sides in 2021 and again in 2022, a pattern associated with suspension geometry rather than simple age, and one that warrants close inspection of the tracking settings and suspension bushes given the mileage now accumulated. A prospective buyer should treat the steering rack inner joint play as a priority item to monitor, as this advisory first surfaced in March 2026 and the condition can deteriorate quickly on a high-mileage vehicle. On the test drive, listen for a clonking or knocking noise from the front end over speed humps and uneven roads, and feel for any vagueness, slack, or judder through the steering wheel, particularly when turning slowly at low speed. Inspect the front brake pads for remaining thickness by viewing the caliper through the wheel spokes and confirm whether the original advisory has been addressed since the March 2026 test; on the road, expect to check for a spongy pedal, pulling to one side under braking, or any grinding noise suggesting the pads have worn further. The rear coil springs flagged as corroded on both sides should be examined visually for surface rust and cracking, and a thorough test drive over broken surfaces should be carried out to detect any sagging, clonking, or reduced ride quality at the rear axle. The lighting failures from March 2026 demand a systematic check of every exterior lamp, including the rear fog lamp unit which was missing entirely, to confirm that all bulbs, holders, and wiring are present and functional before purchase. The dangerous tyre failures from January 2024, combined with persistent inner-edge wear advisories in 2021 and 2022, indicate that the front suspension geometry — particularly the bushes, wishbone arms, and possibly the anti-roll bar drop links — should be inspected for wear, and a four-wheel alignment measurement is advisable to identify why both front tyres have worn on the inner edges. The 2021 advisory noting subframe corrosion but not seriously weakened warrants a close visual inspection of the front subframe and associated mounting points for any progression of rust. Finally, given the three-year testing gap between 2020 and 2024, the buyer should verify the current state of brake fluid, check that the handbrake holds the vehicle securely on an incline, and confirm the battery holds charge under load, as all three items are likely to have deteriorated during any extended period of standing.