2011 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · FD60 OFS

A 2011 Ford Fiesta with this MOT history presents a mixed but instructive mechanical narrative, characterised by a cluster of structural and braking advisories that have accumulated steadily rather than a single dramatic failure. Across the four tests recorded between January 2022 and November 2025 the vehicle has passed on three occasions and failed twice, with the most recent test on 5 November 2025 returning a pass alongside three advisories. The pattern that emerges is one of recurring attention to the braking and suspension systems: the rear coil springs were flagged as corroded in 2023, the rear beam axle bushes were noted as worn at the same test, a front lower suspension arm ball joint was deemed excessively worn at the February 2024 failure, and the front brake pipes are now recorded as corroded on both sides at the most recent examination. Compounding this, the January 2022 failure recorded a dangerous front brake imbalance of 54 percent across the axle alongside pitted front brake discs. The trend is not one of sudden deterioration but of chronic advisories accumulating on chassis and brake components typical of a fifteen year old supermini, and a prospective buyer should treat the underside of this car as the primary area of concern rather than assuming the passes indicate consistent mechanical health. Recorded mileage of 92,269 against a 2011 first registration equates to roughly 6,150 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and segment and suggests consistent rather than exceptional use. There are no lengthy gaps between annual tests, indicating the car has remained in regular service on the road throughout the period covered, and no anomalies in the recorded mileages between tests that would point to clocking or extended lay-offs. For a Fiesta of this vintage and annual mileage, wear on consumables such as tyres, brake pads, discs, and suspension bushes is expected, but the specific advisories on record point to corrosion rather than wear as the principal issue, which is consistent with the underside of a car that has seen multiple British winters of road salt exposure. Buyers should interpret the mileage as unremarkable and focus attention on the components that have already drawn examiner comments rather than on the odometer reading itself. Inspection of this Fiesta should focus squarely on the areas repeatedly flagged by DVSA examiners, starting with the front brake pipes which were noted as corroded and coated in grease or another material in November 2025. Corrosion underneath such a coating can progress hidden, so the pipes should be physically inspected along their full length from the master cylinder to the flexi hoses, paying particular attention to unions and clips where rust is most likely to take hold. The rear coil springs and beam axle bushes noted in 2023 should be checked visually for further corrosion pitting or any cracking of the spring coils, and the rear axle bushes should be examined for splitting, displacement, or any daylight visible between the bush and its mounting. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear suspension over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and feel for any vagueness or lateral instability in the rear end through sweeping bends, which would suggest the beam axle bushes have degraded further. The front lower suspension arm ball joint that failed in February 2024 should be confirmed as replaced, and the replacement joint should be inspected for any play by rocking the wheel at twelve and six o clock with the car raised. The braking system warrants equally close attention given both the dangerous imbalance recorded in 2022 and the fluctuating front service brake noted in 2024. On a test drive, the pedal should feel firm and progressive rather than spongy, and there should be no pulling to either side under firm braking which would suggest caliper binding or a flexible pipe issue related to the corroded lines. The front brake discs, which were noted as pitted and scored in 2022, should be checked for lipping, runout, and hot spots, and the caliper slide pins should be confirmed as free rather than seized, a common Fiesta ailment that can replicate the imbalance originally flagged. The nearside rear road wheel noted as slightly distorted on the inner rim in November 2025 should be inspected for any buckle visible through the tyre bead and checked for slow air loss. Finally, the bonnet secondary catch that failed in February 2024 should be verified as fully functional, as this is a straightforward but frequently overlooked item on a vehicle of this age.