2006 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · FE06 XON

This 2006 Ford Fiesta, with 86,422 miles at its latest MOT on 2026-03-24, failed that test with multiple serious defects—none of which were present or flagged as minor in the 2025 tests. The failure includes a full ABS fault (a safety-critical issue), both front position lamps inoperative, severely worn rear axle swivel pins and bushes, corroded rear brake pipes, and front sub-frame corrosion. The rear axle swivel pins and bushes were noted as “slightly worn” in both 2025 MOTs, but by March 2026 had progressed to “excessively worn”—a clear sign of worsening suspension integrity, affecting steering control and tyre wear. Similarly, the rear brake pipes, flagged as corroded and greased in 2023 and 2024, had deteriorated to the point of being both corroded and leaking by March 2025, then fully corroded again in 2026. The 2026 failure also introduces a new ABS fault, likely linked to wheel speed sensors or wiring degraded by moisture ingress from the compromised brake pipes. Mileage is low for age—just 4,321 miles per year—suggesting light or infrequent use. However, this can be a double-edged sword: prolonged periods of standing may accelerate rubber, hose, and brake component degradation due to lack of use, while low annual mileage doesn’t necessarily mean less wear on suspension or brakes if the car was often driven short trips in stop-start conditions. The progression of corrosion and wear here points more to age and environmental exposure than heavy use. The trend is clearly worsening. Every MOT since 2024 has shown at least one new or escalated defect, with three failures in four years.