2002 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · EX02 AAO

The vehicle presents a concerning roadworthiness profile characterized by a trend of deferred maintenance and recurring mechanical failures. While it passed its most recent test in October 2025 at 125,747 miles, the failure just two weeks prior at 125,604 miles reveals a history of neglected suspension components. The tester identified multiple critical faults including a fractured coil spring, worn track rod ends, and anti-roll bar linkages, suggesting that the owner only performs the minimum repairs necessary to secure an MOT certificate rather than undertaking proactive preventative maintenance. At 24 years old, the recorded mileage of 125,747 miles is low, averaging approximately 5,239 miles per year. However, the data shows a recent spike in usage between October 2024 and October 2025, where the car covered over 9,000 miles in a single year. This sudden increase, combined with the long age of the vehicle, explains the rapid degradation of rubber and metal components. The 2023 test record already highlighted perishing tyres, which indicates dry rot despite the low annual mileage. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the underbody and braking systems. The record shows a persistent issue with corrosion on the rear brake pipes and fuel pipes, which were flagged in 2024 and remained as advisories or failure points into 2025. The recurring oil leak has appeared in every test since at least 116,609 miles, indicating a long-term engine seal failure that remains unaddressed. Given the history of fractured springs and worn ball joints, the structural integrity of the entire suspension geometry should be verified to ensure no further hidden fatigue has developed beyond what the tester noted.