2014 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · CV64 PLZ

A recurring pattern of front-axle wear dominates the MOT history of this 2014 Ford Fiesta, with tyre edges, brake pads, and suspension components repeatedly flagged across four consecutive testing cycles. The most recent test on 22 October 2025 produced both a pass and a failure on the same day, with the failure attributable to a nearside front tyre registering tread depth below the 1.6mm legal minimum alongside an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on the inner edge. The same visit recorded thin front brake pads and an illuminated Tyre Pressure Monitoring System warning light. Earlier cycles reinforce the same mechanical theme: an offside front brake pipe issue and a nearside front anti-roll bar drop link ball joint were flagged as Major defects in October 2024 and October 2023 respectively, while the October 2022 test produced a Dangerous failure for a nearside rear tyre at just 1mm of tread. The cumulative picture is one of a vehicle that has consistently presented borderline consumable wear at the front axle, with three of the four most recent test dates featuring at least one Major or Dangerous defect. With 65,623 miles recorded against a twelve-year vehicle age, the Fiesta has averaged roughly 5,469 miles annually, which sits well below the typical mileage expectation for a car of this vintage. Such a low annual accumulation rate generally points to limited daily use, though it can also reflect extended periods of inactivity. The MOT history does not contain any unusual multi-year testing gaps that would suggest a prolonged lay-up, with annual tests consistently recorded from 2022 onwards, so the low mileage figure is likely indicative of genuinely light service rather than dormant storage. From a mechanical standpoint, this pattern reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the clutch, gearbox, and engine internals, but it places greater emphasis on items that degrade through age and exposure regardless of distance covered, particularly rubber components, brake system seals, and corrosion-prone underbody areas. For a prospective buyer, the front-axle advisories should drive a focused physical inspection and test drive. The repeated tyre edge wear, particularly on the inner shoulder, warrants close attention to suspension geometry, as uneven inner-edge wear is commonly associated with worn drop links, top mounts, or tracking misalignment. The October 2023 Major defect relating to the nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint is a known weak point on this generation of Fiesta, and on a test drive the buyer should listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, paying particular attention to body roll and suspension response during direction changes. A knocking or rattling sound from the front strut area on full lock, or imprecise steering with excessive play, would suggest that the drop links or related bush components require renewal. The 2024 SRS warning lamp fault should be verified as resolved; during the test drive, the airbag warning light on the instrument cluster should illuminate with ignition and extinguish within a few seconds, and its persistent illumination would indicate a fault within the supplementary restraint system requiring diagnostic interrogation. The braking system also merits direct attention given the 2025 advisory for thin front pads and a 2024 advisory for an offside front brake pipe issue. The buyer should inspect the front pads and discs for remaining material thickness, looking for scoring or lipping on the disc edges, and check the visible brake pipes and flexible hoses along the front axle for surface corrosion, cracking, or weeping, particularly at the suspension-to-body transition points where moisture and road salt accumulate. On the road, any judder through the brake pedal, pulling to one side under heavy braking, or a soft or spongy pedal feel would indicate caliper binding, warped discs, or hydraulic issues respectively. Given the three Dangerous and Major tyre-related failures recorded since 2022, the prospective buyer should also verify that all four tyres are of matching size and tread pattern and consider a four-wheel alignment check to establish whether the recurring edge wear is symptomatic of a persistent geometry issue that will continue to consume front tyres prematurely.