2008 Ford Fiesta 1.6L Diesel · EX08 LRN

The most recent DVSA examination on 13 June 2024 resulted in a pass, though it must be viewed in the context of an earlier failure on 10 June 2024 at identical mileage, which is unusual and indicates the vehicle was repaired and retested within a very short window. The earlier test recorded five major defects, namely a non-functioning offside front side lamp, an ineffective nearside front wiper, a leaking power steering rack, a split offside front outer CV joint boot, and a major exhaust gas leak. The subsequent pass advisory noted general underbody and suspension corrosion, which suggests the underlying structural condition remains a concern despite the clean pass status. Looking back across the last three years, the maintenance trend is broadly stable but with a recurring pattern of advisories relating to brake pipe corrosion, steering rack deterioration, and CV joint boot failures, and this recurring theme points to a vehicle that is ageing into its component life cycle rather than one being actively restored. The recorded mileage of 143,379 miles against an eighteen-year vehicle age equates to roughly 7,966 miles per annum, which is broadly typical for a small Ford Fiesta of this generation, although the MOT history shows a notable two-year gap between the February 2022 test and the 2024 entries, suggesting either a period of limited use or a change in ownership. Regardless of annual average, the absolute figure of over 143,000 miles is high for a vehicle of this class and means that mechanical wear items such as clutches, exhaust mounts, suspension bushes, coil springs, engine mounts, and gearbox synchros will have been substantially worked. The mileage plateau between the 2022 and 2024 tests, if genuine, could also indicate periods of standing, which brings its own issues including brake disc corrosion, caliper seizure, and tyre sidewall perishing even where tread remains legal. A prospective buyer should pay close attention to the recurring advisories on both front brake pipes showing corrosion covered in grease or other material, as this points to a longstanding issue that has been masked rather than rectified, and on a physical inspection the pipes should be examined along their full length for swelling, pitting, or active weeping, particularly at the unions near the master cylinder and along the chassis runs where road salt collects. The steering rack has been flagged for inner joint play in 2023 and now a confirmed fluid leak in 2024, which is a serious combination suggesting the rack is approaching the end of its service life; on a test drive, listen for a clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, check for irregular tyre wear on the front pair indicating misalignment from worn inner tie rod ends, and observe whether the power steering fluid reservoir loses level between checks. The exhaust system was noted as deteriorating in 2022 and then leaking severely in 2024, and a physical inspection from underneath should look for rust holes along the pipework, weakened mounting rubbers, and heat shield looseness, with the engine note on startup likely to be louder than expected if the leak has progressed further. Beyond the recorded defects, the vehicle's age warrants attention to several time-sensitive items that may not be visible in MOT records. The 12V battery will be well beyond its typical four to five year service life and should be load tested, particularly as the June 2024 test will not reflect its current condition some two years later. Coolant, brake fluid, and automatic or manual gearbox oil will all have degraded beyond recommended change intervals and fresh fluid should be specified as part of any negotiation. Tyres should be examined for sidewall cracking and perishing even where tread depth appears adequate, the rear wheel bearings should be checked for noise or play, and the offside front CV joint should be inspected again for boot integrity since splits have been recorded on both inner and outer joints in recent years. Given the combination of high absolute mileage, advanced corrosion advisories, multiple steering and drivetrain wear items, and the questionable gap in recent testing, a thorough independent pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician with the vehicle raised on a ramp would be strongly advised before committing to purchase.