2012 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · FL12 ABN

The most recent DVSA MOT test for this 2012 Ford Fiesta took place on 5 November 2025 and resulted in a pass with no defects recorded, which is the outcome a prospective buyer would wish to see. The preceding history shows one failure dated 29 October 2025, which is notable because it occurred only seven days before the pass. The failure record does not list any specific defect categories or component failures, which suggests the initial test was either an aborted or incomplete inspection, an administrative refusal, or a retest undertaken to rectify an item that was quickly resolved. Beyond this anomaly, the vehicle has a clean run of passes in October 2022, October 2023, and October 2024, with no advisories or failures noted. Overall, the maintenance trend is stable and consistent, indicating that the vehicle has been kept in a roadworthy condition throughout its life, with the single failure appearing to be a procedural rather than mechanical concern. With 74,975 miles recorded across approximately 14 years, this Fiesta has covered around 5,355 miles annually, which is significantly below the national average for a vehicle of this age and type. While low annual mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain and mechanical components such as the clutch, gearbox, and engine internals, it can introduce its own set of age-related concerns. Vehicles that accumulate fewer miles often stand for prolonged periods, leading to issues such as binding brake calipers, corrosion on brake discs, deterioration of rubber components, and fluid degradation purely from calendar age rather than use. The mileage gap between tests should also be reviewed to confirm steady, modest accumulation rather than long periods of inactivity followed by sporadic use, which can mask underlying mechanical conditions. Given the clean MOT record, a physical inspection becomes particularly important to assess items that annual testing may not fully evaluate. The tyres should be examined closely for sidewall perishing and cracking, as rubber compounds degrade with age regardless of tread depth, and a 14-year-old vehicle is well within the window where replacement is advisable even if tread remains legal. The brake discs, particularly on a low-mileage vehicle, may show surface corrosion or pitting from standing, and the calipers should be checked for smooth operation and freedom of movement. The 12-volt battery is also a prime candidate for renewal, as most units of this vintage will have significantly reduced capacity, and a failing battery can mask electrical faults during starting. Fluid services, including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and the manual transmission oil if applicable, should be verified through service history stamps, as these degrade over time even with low use. On a test drive, attention should be paid to suspension behaviour, listening for clunks or knocks from worn bushes, drop links, or coil springs that may have weakened with age. The steering should be checked for vagueness or knocking on uneven surfaces, which can indicate worn track rod ends or suspension joints. Braking should feel firm and progressive without any shuddering or pulling to one side, both of which could suggest warped or corroded discs. Cold starting behaviour is also worth observing, as short journeys and infrequent use can lead to moisture accumulation in the engine oil and potential running issues. Finally, the underside of the vehicle should be inspected for any signs of corrosion, particularly around structural mounting points, suspension components, and the exhaust system, as Ford models of this era can be susceptible to surface corrosion in the wheel arches and underbody seams. Overall, the clean MOT history combined with the low mileage presents a generally favourable proposition, provided the age-related checks detailed above are carried out thoroughly prior to purchase.