2012 Ford KA 1.2L Petrol · FD12 BYV

A clear mechanical narrative has developed around the rear suspension and front lower arm bushes on this 2012 Ford Ka, with corrosion at the coil spring axle cups and progressive wear on the inner arm pin or bush flagged repeatedly across recent tests. The most recent assessment on 15 December 2025 returned a Pass, but it carried forward the same pattern of advisories seen over the prior two years, including both nearside and offside rear coil spring mounting corrosion and borderline wear on both front inner suspension arm pins or bushes, alongside a new advisory noting that the front brake pads are wearing thin. Two days before that same advisory set in 2024 the vehicle actually failed on 10 December 2024 on what appears to be similar items, before passing two days later on 12 December 2024 once the rectification was accepted, demonstrating that the suspension and brake components sit on a knife edge between advisory and failure status. The earlier 2020 test is more concerning in isolation, with an offside rear tyre cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords and an offside front outer brake pad recorded as dangerously below 1.5 mm, though no repeat brake failures have appeared in the subsequent five tests. Taken together, the record shows a car that is fundamentally roadworthy at the point of last test but is accumulating chronic, positionally consistent advisories on the rear springs, front arm bushes, and tyre condition that warrant close physical inspection before purchase. The recorded mileage of 41,581 miles across approximately 14 years equates to a usage rate of roughly 2,970 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age. This low annual accumulation is consistent with a car used predominantly for short local trips rather than long motorway commutes, and there are no significant gaps in the MOT history to suggest long periods off the road, with tests recorded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Mechanically, low-mileage urban use of this kind tends to produce exactly the wear pattern seen here: corrosion at the rear spring mountings develops because short journeys do not allow the underbody to dry out thoroughly, while the perishing noted on the front arm rear bushes in 2021 and the borderline pin or bush wear in 2023, 2024 and 2025 are typical of age-related polymer degradation rather than high-mileage mechanical fatigue. Brake discs and pads, however, can suffer from surface corrosion and uneven wear when a vehicle is used infrequently and the brakes are rarely worked hard, so the 2025 advisory of thin front pads alongside the earlier dangerous pad reading should not be dismissed simply because the mileage is modest. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas for physical inspection and test drive evaluation are the suspension components that have been repeatedly flagged. With the rear coil spring mountings showing corrosion at both nearside and offside axle cups on multiple occasions, the underbody should be examined on a ramp for any perforation through the cup area or loss of metal thickness around the spring seat, as corrosion of this type can progress from advisory to failure once it compromises structural integrity. On the front end, the inner suspension arm rear bushes have been described as borderline perishing in 2021 and borderline worn through 2023, 2024 and 2025, so a careful test drive over uneven surfaces and speed humps is essential to listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension, particularly under braking and over dips, and to feel for any vagueness or shimmy through the steering wheel that might indicate excessive bush movement now that the wear has had another twelve months to develop. The shock top mount play noted on the nearside in 2024 is another item to verify by hand pressure on each front corner with the wheel off the ground, checking for any vertical play or clonking. On the road, attention should also be paid to braking behaviour given the history of a dangerously worn pad in 2020 and now thin pads in 2025. A firm pedal with good bite and no judder under heavy braking would be reassuring, whereas a soft or spongy pedal, vibration through the wheel under deceleration, or any pulling to one side would warrant further investigation of the caliper slides, disc condition and brake pipe integrity, particularly as the vehicle ages and the original rubber flexi hoses approach the point where internal deterioration becomes more likely. Given the 2020 tyre failures and the recurring advisories for cracking, perishing and edge wear on the front tyres in 2021 and 2023, all four tyres should be inspected closely for sidewall cracking, bulges and uneven tread wear, with particular focus on the offside rear wheel arch where the deep cut was previously recorded. Finally, while the MOT record alone cannot establish how the vehicle has been serviced, the combination of low mileage, age, and persistent suspension and brake advisories suggests that budgeting for replacement front arm bushes, rear spring refitting or axle cup repair, fresh front brake pads, and a full set of new tyres would be a prudent starting point before committing to purchase.