2006 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · GL06 RDO

This twenty year old Ford Fiesta presents a roadworthiness history defined by a cluster of recurring front end issues rather than any single catastrophic failure, and the latest test on 8 July 2026 passed with an accumulation of minor and advisory items that mirror the pattern from the previous year. Across the four recorded tests, the most consistent theme is headlamp lens deterioration, with both front headlamps now showing defective lenses that were first flagged as product contamination reducing output in January 2023, recorded as major defects in January 2024 when light output was severely reduced on both sides, and persisting as minor lens defects through the 2025 and 2026 tests. A January 2024 attempt also failed on a nearside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover that had deteriorated to the point of admitting dirt, while the same test recorded worn and pitted front brake discs as an advisory. The nearside rear suspension component mounting was noted as damaged in the most recent test, suggesting localised corrosion or impact wear around a rear anchorage point, though it was not classed as excessive. Registration plate deterioration has been flagged at every test since January 2024, indicating long term UV degradation of the polycarbonate. The recorded mileage of 100,321 against an age of roughly twenty years equates to an annual accumulation of approximately 5,016 miles, which sits well below the typical usage rate for a Fiesta of this era and points to either genuinely low annual use or extended periods of standing. The MOT record contains a gap between January 2024 and January 2023 with two tests clustered close together in early 2024, and an absence of tests prior to January 2023, meaning the platform evidence for assessing long term wear rates is limited. Mechanically, this combination of low mileage and visible component wear is informative, as it suggests that age related degradation of rubber boots, flexible brake lines, headlamp polycarbonate, and suspension mountings has progressed despite limited road use, and that consumables such as brake discs have still been subject to corrosion and pitting from standing and short journeys. The 2023 record also noted power steering fluid below minimum and an offside rear brake pipe described as corroded or covered in material, both of which warrant attention given the age of the fluid and the potential for brake line degradation under the vehicle. A prospective buyer should treat the front suspension and lighting as the priority areas for physical inspection. The nearside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover failure from January 2024 means the joint itself has likely been exposed to water and grit since that point, and any knocking or clonking from the front nearside wheel over bumps, particularly during full steering lock or when traversing speed humps, would indicate accelerated wear of that joint. The damaged nearside rear suspension component mounting area should be inspected with a torch and ideally raised on a ramp to confirm whether the damage is surface only or has progressed toward the mounting bracket or bodywork, as corrosion in prescribed areas can escalate from advisory to failure if it compromises structural integrity. The headlamp lenses, currently recorded as slightly defective but still passing, will continue to deteriorate, and a night time check from inside the vehicle and from a following position will confirm whether the beam pattern remains compliant or whether light scatter has begun to dazzle oncoming traffic despite still passing the MOT standard. The brake system merits close scrutiny given the pitted front discs flagged in 2024 and the corroded offside rear brake pipe noted in 2023. On a test drive, any vibration or pulsation through the brake pedal under firm application, or a pulling sensation to one side under braking, would suggest the front discs have worn beyond their service limit despite passing the MOT advisory threshold. The rear brake pipe should be physically inspected along its full length for surface corrosion, blistering, or any sign of weeping, as a corroded pipe noted in 2023 will have continued to deteriorate with age. Power steering fluid should be checked cold with the engine off, and any whining or groaning from the pump during low speed lock to lock manoeuvres would warrant investigation, as a low fluid reading in 2023 could indicate a leak from the rack or a failing pump. Finally, the registration plates should be expected to require replacement in the near term, and the upper stop lamp should be confirmed as functional, as a non working non obligatory lamp was noted in 2023 and may persist.