2009 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · EY59 RWN

The most recent MOT, conducted on 27 February 2026 at 116,506 miles, confirms the vehicle passed with no defects—a positive outcome following a period of inconsistent maintenance. However, the trend leading up to this point reveals a vehicle that has required significant attention, particularly in the past 12 months. The February 2025 tests exposed critical issues: severe corrosion on the offside rear suspension mounting, fluctuating rear brake performance, and near-legal-limit tyre wear on both front tyres, with edge damage indicating alignment or tracking problems. These faults were not merely advisory; the February 2025 failure alone cited structural corrosion reducing the outer sill’s integrity, a serious concern for long-term safety. While the latest test shows these issues resolved, the history suggests they were likely addressed reactively rather than preventatively, given the recurrence of similar problems in earlier tests. The Fiesta’s mileage accumulation—averaging roughly 6,853 miles per year over 17 years—aligns with typical usage for its age, though the clustering of tests in early 2024 and 2025 indicates periods of heightened activity, possibly due to urgent repairs. The gap between the 2024 March failures (107,379 miles) and the next test in February 2025 (111,276 miles) suggests the vehicle may have sat unused or seen minimal use for several months, which could exacerbate issues like corrosion or brake binding. The most recent 5,093 miles since the February 2025 failure were covered without further MOT failures, but this does not necessarily reflect proactive maintenance—rather, it may imply the owner prioritised passing the test over addressing underlying causes. For a buyer, the suspension and structural components demand immediate scrutiny. The repeated corrosion advisories on the rear outer sill—first noted as "not excessive" in March 2024 but escalating to "significantly reducing structural strength" by February 2025—warrant a thorough inspection for hidden rust or weakened welds, particularly in the wheel arches and sill areas. The anti-roll bar linkages, flagged in March 2024 with split dust covers allowing dirt ingress, should be checked for wear or seized joints, as this can lead to uneven handling or premature suspension failure. Brake performance also raises concerns: the fluctuating rear service brakes in both 2025 tests suggest potential binding calipers, warped discs, or worn brake hardware, which could compromise stopping ability. Finally, the persistent tyre wear patterns—edge damage on the front 195/50/15 tyres—point to alignment issues or uneven suspension sag, which may have contributed to the distorted front wheel rims observed in multiple tests. A pre-purchase inspection should verify these components are fully functional and not masking deeper mechanical degradation.