2016 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Petrol · EA51 ALS

The 2016 Ford Fiesta holds a valid MOT pass dated 7 April 2026 at 95,398 miles, but the same-day retest reveals a pattern of deferred maintenance rather than a stable, well-kept vehicle. The tester flagged scored and corroded front brake discs, a persistent oil leak described as misting from the top of the engine, a loose rear exhaust heat shield, and a deteriorated front number plate. These are not fresh failures. The oil leak advisory has appeared consistently since at least April 2025, and the front brake disc corrosion advisory carried over from the 2025 test into 2026. The vehicle passed its April 2026 retest after replacing all four tyres, yet the underlying advisories remain unresolved. The maintenance trend is stable in the sense that the car keeps passing, but worsening in that known faults are being monitored rather than repaired. The mileage progression tells a coherent story. Between March 2023 at 69,683 miles and March 2024 at 76,333 miles, the car covered roughly 6,650 miles. From March 2024 to April 2025 at 85,005 miles, it added 8,672 miles. The jump from April 2025 to April 2026 at 95,398 miles represents 10,393 miles in twelve months, a noticeable increase that suggests heavier recent use, possibly longer commutes or motorway driving. Annual mileage has crept upward from around 7,000 to over 10,000, which accelerates wear on consumables and suspension components. The gap between the 2024 and 2025 tests is thirteen months rather than twelve, indicating the previous owner may have allowed the MOT to lapse slightly before retesting. A buyer should focus on three areas during any in-person inspection. First, the front brake discs remain scored and corroded, and the nearside rear tyre on the April 2026 failure showed a cut deep enough to expose cords, suggesting the car has been driven over kerbs or through potholes hard enough to damage tyres and disc edges simultaneously. Second, the oil leak described as misting from the top of the engine has persisted for over a year across two MOT tests. This could stem from a failing rocker cover gasket or a deteriorating breather system, and it warrants a thorough inspection of the engine bay for oil contamination around ignition components. Third, the 2023 test flagged slightly worn rear axle swivel pins and bushes on both sides, and the 2026 failure noted perished rear tyres with uneven inner edge wear. Together, these point to rear suspension geometry that may be out of specification, so a buyer should check for uneven tyre wear, clunking over bumps, and any play in the rear beam bushes before committing.