2009 Ford Focus 2.5L Petrol · FP59 MLU

A fractured offside front coil spring and a deteriorated nearside front inner constant velocity boot were recorded at the 2022-11-09 test, which resulted in a fail and required immediate rectification before the vehicle subsequently passed five days later at 2022-11-14 with no recorded defects. Since that point the MOT record has been largely stable, with passes at 2023-12-02 and 2026-01-05 both carrying no advisories or defects, though the 2025-01-14 test did flag a minor rear exhaust blow from the silencer. The 2020-11-05 test recorded a cluster of minor and advisory items including an offside rear stop lamp emitting other than a steady red light, deteriorated front and rear registration plates, an under-tray fitted beneath the engine obscuring certain components, and a corroded front exhaust flexi joint. Taken together, the pattern points to a chassis that has accumulated typical mid-life wear on suspension and exhaust components rather than exhibiting chronic structural deterioration. With 88,436 miles recorded over approximately seventeen years, this Focus has averaged around 5,200 miles per year, which is notably low for its age and suggests either extended periods of standing or genuinely light usage. Such low annual accumulation reduces wear on internal drivetrain components, clutches and brake friction surfaces relative to higher-mileage examples, but long stationary periods can bring their own concerns including perished rubber bushes, dried constant velocity joint boots, and brake caliper seizure due to corrosion on sliding surfaces. The MOT testing history runs from 2019-05-10 through to 2026-01-05 with no multi-year gaps that would indicate a prolonged off-road period, which is reassuring from a corrosion and deterioration standpoint, though the mileage progression between tests should still be verified against the service book to ensure consistency. For a prospective buyer, the most relevant mechanical priorities centre on the suspension and exhaust systems already flagged in the MOT record. The 2022 advisory of slight play in the nearside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joint should be checked by physically rocking the bar by hand with the wheel raised to confirm whether the bush or the ball joint itself has worn further, and listen for clonking noises from the rear suspension over speed humps or uneven B-road surfaces. The fractured offside front coil spring is a known failure point on this era of Focus and replacement springs should be inspected for correct grade and matching pair replacement, as a single spring failure often points to general fatigue that can recur on the opposite side. On the test drive, any sagging of the vehicle's nose under braking or a clunk transmitted through the steering when traversing a driveway kerb would warrant further investigation of the front strut and spring assembly. The exhaust system warrants close physical inspection beneath the vehicle, as advisories on the rear silencer blow in 2025 and the front flexi joint corrosion in 2020 suggest progressive deterioration of the system rather than a localised issue. Flexi joints are particularly susceptible to cracking due to constant engine movement and heat cycling, and a failed joint will produce an immediate exhaust tick on cold start that often quietens once the engine warms. On the test drive, listen for any irregular exhaust note under load, particularly a metallic rasp when accelerating in a higher gear, and check the underside of the rear silencer for black soot deposits indicating an active gas leak. Finally, although not flagged in recent tests, the brake caliper slide pins, handbrake mechanism, and rear drum or disc assemblies should be examined for free movement given the low mileage, as calipers that have seized from infrequent use are a common hidden cost on lightly driven vehicles of this age.