2010 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · DS59 DXU

This 2010 Ford Fiesta is currently unroadworthy. The most recent MOT, conducted on 28 January 2026 at 109,016 miles, resulted in a outright failure, and the record shows no subsequent retest or pass. The maintenance trend is clearly worsening. What had been a pattern of marginal passes with accumulating advisories has escalated into a serious structural failure. The tester identified holed corrosion on both the nearside and offside rear inner sills within 30cm of body mountings, a direct failure of structural integrity under section 6.2.2 (d) (i). This is not surface rust. It represents advanced chassis decay that compromises the vehicle's load-bearing strength. Combined with significantly worn front brake discs, a split nearside rear suspension arm bush, insecure mirrors, and an exhaust leak preventing emissions testing, the car presents multiple safety-critical defects that have gone unresolved for over five months. The mileage profile is broadly typical for a 16-year-old Fiesta at roughly 6,800 miles per year, but the MOT intervals reveal a notable gap. Between the January 2023 pass at 85,065 miles and the January 2024 test at 94,306 miles, the car covered 9,241 miles in twelve months, a step up from the prior average. The mileage then slowed dramatically, with only 5,741 miles added between January 2024 and January 2025, and a further 8,969 miles between January 2025 and January 2026. The record is complete with no missing tests, but the accelerating corrosion and component failures in the final two tests suggest the car may have been stored or lightly used while moisture and age took their toll on the structure and rubber components. A buyer should treat this car as a structural project at minimum. The rear inner sills need professional inspection and welding by a body shop experienced in corrosion repair, and the repair must be verified against the 30cm body mounting proximity criteria before the car can pass retest. The front brake discs are at the wear limit and will need replacement along with pads. The nearside rear suspension arm bush is split, which will cause vague rear handling and uneven tyre wear if left unreplaced. Both obligatory mirrors are insecure, and the nearside side repeater and front position lamp are non-functional, indicating electrical or mounting issues. The steering column universal joint has been flagged as notchy across multiple tests, and the slight roughness in the steering system noted in January 2026 warrants inspection of the rack and column internals. Beyond the immediate failure items, the recurring advisories paint a picture of a car that has been left to deteriorate. Brake hoses and rigid pipes have shown corrosion and deterioration across three consecutive tests. Both rear coil springs have been flagged as corroded since 2023, and the rear axle beam bushes are perished. The exhaust heat shield has been loose or insecure in multiple tests, posing a fire risk near the fuel tank. Any in-person inspection should include a thorough check of the subframe, brake pipe runs, and fuel tank heat shield mounting. The bonnet release catch was damaged in the most recent test, so verify it operates correctly before purchase. This is a car with a long history of deferred maintenance, and the structural corrosion now makes it a serious investment risk unless the buyer has access to skilled fabrication and a clear understanding of the repair costs involved.