2015 Ford Mondeo 2.0L Petrol · EF15 FVP

The 2015 Ford Mondeo presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 5 May 2026 at 30,487 miles, passed but flagged the same recurring tyre deterioration that has plagued this car for years. Both front and rear tyres were noted as very badly cracked and perished, alongside a deteriorated front registration plate. This is not a new issue. The trend is clearly worsening. In the 2025 test cycle, the car failed a retest on 23 May 2025 at 28,509 miles for a low offside headlamp aim and the same all-round tyre cracking, then passed a retest the same day after the lamp was rectified, yet the tyre advisory remained. The fact that the tester escalated the cracking severity from "all four tyres" in 2025 to "very badly cracked" on all corners in 2026 indicates the previous owner deferred replacement despite formal advisories. The 2024 and 2023 tests at 26,097 and 24,947 miles respectively were clean, meaning this tyre neglect is a recent and accelerating pattern, not a historic one. The mileage profile is exceptionally low. At 30,487 miles over roughly eleven years, the annual average sits at approximately 2,772 miles. The record shows steady but sparse use: 24,947 miles in May 2023, 26,097 in May 2024, 28,509 in May 2025, and 30,487 in May 2026, representing a consistent year-on-year accumulation of around 1,500 to 2,000 miles. There are no alarming gaps or sudden jumps. However, prolonged periods of standing are a genuine concern on a car this age. Perished tyres are a textbook symptom of a vehicle that sits idle for extended stretches, allowing ozone and UV degradation to attack the rubber compound regardless of remaining tread depth. A buyer should treat the tyre situation as an immediate priority. All four tyres require replacement before the car is used on the road, regardless of tread depth, as deep cracking compromises structural integrity and risks a high-speed blowout. Beyond the tyres, the low-mileage, long-term storage pattern warrants a thorough underbody inspection. Check for seized brake calipers, corroded brake discs, and binding handbrake mechanisms, all common on vehicles that sit stationary. Suspension bushes and coil springs may have taken a permanent set from static loading rather than dynamic wear. Inspect the exhaust system for internal condensation corrosion, which accelerates when engines never reach operating temperature on short trips. The deteriorated front number plate is a minor cosmetic item but confirms general neglect of basic upkeep. Have a specialist verify the headlamp aim and check for any water ingress into the lamp units, given the 2025 aim fault.