2009 Ford Focus 1.6L Diesel · DN09 FMD

The most recent MOT, carried out on 27 March 2026, was a pass but was accompanied by a series of advisories covering rear wheel distortion, tyre tread limits, discoloured direction indicators and a marginal front‑brake balance. Over the last two years the vehicle has moved from a mixture of passes with advisory notes to several outright failures – notably the major suspension corrosion, ball‑joint wear, shock‑absorber leak and headlamp‑aim failures recorded in early 2026 – before achieving a pass at the end of March. This pattern indicates that the car’s condition has been deteriorating and only intermittent remedial work has been undertaken; the latest pass suggests some corrective action was performed, but the underlying trend remains one of concern. At 184,772 mi the car is 17 years old, giving an average of roughly 10,900 mi per annum, which is typical for a UK family hatchback of this age. The mileage record does not show any periods of unusually low use that would hint at long storage intervals, nor does it reveal any sudden spikes that would suggest aggressive short‑term abuse. Consequently the wear on consumables such as tyres, brakes and suspension components is likely to be proportional to age and mileage rather than to extreme loading, but the cumulative distance does mean that many wear items are approaching the end of their service life. A prospective buyer should give particular attention to the rear suspension mounting area on the nearside, where excessive corrosion was flagged as a major defect. Look for any flex or creak when the rear wheels are rocked and inspect for rust‑induced cracks in the sub‑frame or mounting brackets. The front lower ball joints, recorded as excessively worn, should be checked for play by holding the wheel at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions and attempting to move it laterally; any clunk or noticeable movement indicates imminent failure. The front‑right shock absorber was noted to have a serious fluid leak, so a visual inspection for oil seepage around the damper and a bounce test for uneven rebound are essential. The anti‑roll bar pin on the nearside rear, previously deemed likely to detach, should be examined for looseness or missing retaining clips, as a failure here can cause sudden loss of rear stability. Tyre condition is a recurring issue – both rear tyres were repeatedly close to the legal tread limit and the off‑side rear tyre was once classified as dangerous with exposed cords. Verify that the tread depth is comfortably above 3 mm, check for sidewall cracking or dry‑rot, and confirm that the tyre age is not beyond six years, regardless of tread depth. The headlamp aim failures suggest the alignment may still be out of tolerance; a quick visual check of the beam pattern on a wall should reveal any glaring mis‑aim, which can affect night‑time visibility. Finally, the front‑brake imbalance advisory means the driver may notice a pull to one side under hard braking; a test‑drive should include a firm stop to feel for any directional pull or vibration. Beyond the specific faults, the car’s age warrants a thorough inspection of items that degrade with time. Examine all suspension bushes, trailing‑arm and lower‑arm pins for cracking, excessive play or corrosion, especially on the off‑side front coil spring which was previously noted as corroded. Verify that the steering rack inner joints are free of excessive play, as previously advised, by checking for a loose feel when turning the wheel at low speed. The 12 V battery, likely over fifteen years old, should be load‑tested to ensure it can hold charge, and the electrolyte level inspected if it is a conventional lead‑acid type. All engine and gearbox fluids – coolant, brake fluid, gearbox oil and power‑steering fluid – should be sampled for colour and level, and replaced if they appear dark or contaminated, because time‑based degradation can lead to seal leaks and reduced performance. A complete service history, including recent oil changes and any component replacements, will give further confidence that the vehicle has been maintained in line with its mileage and age.