2006 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · CT55 LLJ

A twenty-year-old Ford Fiesta showing a clean slate on its latest examination, having passed its MOT on 10 October 2025 with no advisories or defects recorded, speaks to a vehicle that has held its roadworthiness together well into its third decade. The history demonstrates a stable pattern: consecutive passes at the September annual tests in 2022, 2023, and 2024 were followed by a single failure just eleven days before the most recent pass in late September 2025, an unusually tight gap that suggests a minor rectification rather than a structural or mechanical deterioration. Notably, the absence of any recorded advisories across the entire five-test sequence indicates that none of the usual wear items such as corrosion, exhaust leaks, brake component wear, or suspension deterioration have reached the threshold where testers felt obliged to flag them for the owner's attention. This is an unusually tidy record for a car of this vintage and suggests the bodyshell, undercarriage, and running gear have remained sound throughout the testing cycle. Against an expected average of roughly 7,500 to 9,000 miles annually for a car of this age and class, the recorded accumulation of around 5,571 miles per year sits on the lower side of the spectrum, which has clear mechanical implications. Lower annual mileage typically translates to reduced wear on major drivetrain and suspension components, but it also raises the prospect of extended standing periods during which oil seals can harden, brake discs and calipers can corrode and bind, and coolant and brake fluid can deteriorate from lack of regular circulation. The relatively even spacing of annual tests with no long gaps in the record suggests the vehicle has not been laid up for any prolonged period off the road, which would otherwise have triggered component-specific advisories. Mechanically, the lower mileage favours longevity of the engine internals, clutch, and gearbox, but warrants particular attention to the ancillary systems that suffer from inactivity rather than use. For a prospective buyer, the absence of any flagged components means the inspection must focus on the typical age-related deterioration points for a Mk6 Fiesta that have not yet reached advisory threshold. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate worn lower wishbone bushes or dropped suspension links, both known wear items on this model. Feel for any pulling to one side under braking or a spongy pedal, which would suggest corroded brake pipes or binding caliper sliders, and listen for a graunching or grinding from the front discs on the first few applications from cold. Inspect the inner and outer edges of the front brake discs for visible lipping and rust pitting, as these tend to be the first items flagged as the car accumulates further mileage. Equally important is a careful visual examination of the underbody and wheel arches, since corrosion advisories on a Mk6 Fiesta commonly target the rear axle, subframe mounting points, and suspension turrets as the car ages into its twenties. Check the exhaust system for any blowing at the manifold gasket or signs of corrosion around the rear silencer box, and ensure the catalytic converter is securely mounted as this is a common failure point on higher-mileage examples. Inspect the engine bay for any oil misting around the cam cover gasket and signs of coolant residue around the thermostat housing, both of which are typical seepage points on the Zetec engine. Finally, verify that all warning lamps illuminate correctly on ignition and extinguish once running, and check the cooling fan operation, as overheating incidents from a failing fan resistor can be a hidden cost on older Fiestas that otherwise pass their MOT without complaint.