2016 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · CU16 VBX

A pattern of recurring major defects sits at the centre of this Fiesta's roadworthiness history, with the most recent test on 2025-12-06 producing a pass with no advisories but only after the car had failed the day before on a worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint. The 2024-11-07 outcome followed an identical pattern: a clean pass was recorded on the same day as a fail for excess exhaust Lambda readings and carbon monoxide content beyond manufacturer limits. The deeper concern lies in 2023, when both front brake pads were recorded as dangerously thin at less than 1.5 mm, both rear axle swivel pins and bushes were reported as excessively worn, an offside front track rod end had excessive play, and an offside front tyre fell below the legal 1.6 mm tread requirement. Taken together, the record shows five MOT events over roughly three years with three failures, and although the most recent pass is unblemished, the cumulative weight of worn steering and suspension components, brake material, and tyres warrants careful physical inspection. With 106,926 miles accumulated over ten years, this Fiesta has averaged around 10,693 miles annually, which is broadly typical for its age and consistent with regular commuter use. There is no obvious gap suggesting the vehicle was laid up for extended periods, although the lack of an MOT test between January 2023 and September 2023, and again between late 2024 and late 2025, simply reflects the standard expiry cycle rather than any unusual absence from the road. The mileages implied by the test sequence suggest steady, ongoing use, which means consumables such as brake discs, pads, tyres, and exhaust components have been worked hard throughout their service life. The pattern of brake, steering, and tyre failures at around 100,000 miles is broadly consistent with a vehicle of this age and usage entering the phase where suspension bushes, swivel pins, and steering linkages typically demand replacement. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the suspension and steering components that have previously failed. The 2023 nearside and offside rear axle swivel pins and bushes were both flagged, and the offside front track rod end had excessive play, so on a test drive listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear axle over undulations and feel for any looseness or rattle through the steering wheel on rough surfaces. A quick check by hand with the front wheel raised should reveal play at the track rod end joint, and the rear should be inspected for movement at the axle mounting points. The nearside front suspension arm ball joint that failed in late 2025 should likewise be checked for any lateral play in the joint, with particular focus on clunks when turning at low speed or traversing speed humps, which would indicate the replacement component is itself wearing prematurely or has not been fitted correctly. The braking system also deserves close attention given that both front pads were recorded as dangerously worn in 2023. On inspection, the front discs should be examined for lipping, scoring, or corrosion, and the calipers checked for binding or sticking pistons, which are common on higher-mileage Fiestas. The tyres, which have featured repeatedly in advisories and a dangerous failure for tread below 1.6 mm on the offside front, should all be checked for even wear across the tread, as uneven wear can point to tracking issues, worn suspension components, or alignment problems stemming from the previously flagged ball joints and bushes. Finally, given the 2024 exhaust Lambda and CO exceedances, the Lambda sensor and catalytic converter should be considered potential future costs, and any roughness at idle, smell of unburned fuel, or illuminated engine management warning light during a test drive would warrant further diagnostic investigation before purchase.