2006 Ford Focus 2.0L Diesel · DX06 ENM

Chronic structural corrosion is the defining mechanical concern in this Focus's MOT record, alongside a pattern of recurring suspension wear that has tipped from advisory into failure territory on multiple occasions. The most recent test on 27 November 2025 returned a pass, but only after a failed attempt three days earlier which cited an excessively perished nearside rear trailing arm front bush, a defect that remains logged as an advisory on the offside rear at the pass. Looking back through the history, both the front and rear subframes have carried corrosion advisories at every test since at least December 2022, and the rear suspension arms have done the same. More worrying is the November 2023 failure, where the offside and nearside rear outer suspension mounting areas on the sills were recorded as excessively corroded with significantly reduced structural strength, alongside an offside rear wheel bearing with excessive play. The 2022 failure captured a fractured offside front coil spring and a rough offside rear wheel bearing, the latter having first appeared as a slight-play advisory weeks earlier. The cumulative picture is one of an elderly vehicle in which the underbody and rear suspension are steadily degrading, with two coil spring fractures and multiple bush failures in just three years indicating the suspension has reached the point of active component failure rather than gradual wear. The recorded mileage of 111,344 miles over a twenty-year life equates to roughly 5,500 miles per year, which is low for the vehicle's age and points to either light usage or extended periods of standing. The MOT testing has been annual and consistent, with no multi-year gaps, so the car has not been formally off the road. Averages of around 5,500 miles per year mean consumables such as brake pads, discs and tyres may have suffered from infrequent use and standing periods as much as from mileage accumulation, while the low annual running allows corrosion to take hold without the mechanical abrasion of regular driving to keep surface rust at bay. For a Focus of this vintage, the underbody corrosion pattern recorded across three consecutive years is wholly consistent with low annual mileage combined with twenty years of exposure to wet roads and winter salt, and this explains why structural advisories have compounded rather than improved. A prospective buyer should treat the underbody as the primary inspection target and budget for significant rectification work, ideally arranging a ramp-based examination before purchase. Both subframes have carried advisories at every test since 2022, and the rear sill mounting areas have already failed once on excessive corrosion, so a close look at the inner sills, jacking points and rear suspension outriggers is essential, with any surface bubbling, flaking or perforation warranting negotiation or withdrawal. The trailing arm front bushes on both rear arms have been flagged in 2025 and are a known Focus weak point; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the rear over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed humps and potholes, and feel for vagueness or shimmying through the rear end during direction changes. The rear wheel bearings have appeared as advisories and as a failure, so a faint rumble that rises and falls with cornering load, or any wandering at speed, would suggest the offside rear bearing has again deteriorated. The front suspension has produced two fractured coil springs in three years, which on a low-mileage car of this age points to corrosion fatigue of the spring coils rather than simple wear. On a test drive, any sharp metallic ping or sudden drop in ride height over a bump, particularly at the front, would indicate another fracture in progress, and the car should be observed at rest on level ground for any obvious lean. The offside front anti-roll bar linkage dust cover was also noted as failing to seal in 2022, so any slack or rattle from the front anti-roll bar over rough roads should be investigated. Finally, with the indicators recorded as discoloured at multiple tests, a walk around should confirm all six indicators illuminate in the correct amber colour, and the washer system should be checked for adequate jetting as the recent failure shows this is a current point of non-compliance. Given the structural advisories, two coil spring failures, a recorded sill structural defect and a pattern of bushing wear, this Focus should be regarded as a vehicle requiring substantial suspension and underbody refurbishment in addition to general maintenance.