2009 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · GL09 YYA

A pattern of corrosion-related advisories running through every recorded MOT is the defining mechanical feature of this Ford Focus. The most recent test on 26 January 2024 was a pass, but it carried four advisories: both front tyres were worn close to the legal limit and on the edge, general vehicle structure corrosion was noted as not significantly reducing rigidity, and the rear suspension arms were corroded across all positions. This follows the 2023 pass which flagged light oil misting on the nearside front shock absorber alongside the same rear suspension arm corrosion advisory, and the 2022 pass which recorded offside front tyre edge wear plus pitted and scored front inner brake discs on both sides. The suspension corrosion advisory having appeared on two consecutive tests is a notable recurring theme and warrants close physical inspection, as corrosion on rear suspension arms and bushes can progress between annual tests once initiated, particularly on a chassis of this age exposed to British winter road conditions. With only three tests recorded across the vehicle's life on the DVSA database and 90,103 miles on the odometer at the most recent test, the usage profile is unusually sparse for a 2009 car. The annual mileage equates to roughly 5,300 miles per year on average, which is well below typical figures for a Focus of this vintage. Such low accumulation can reflect periods of light use, extended standing, or gaps in testing history, and the absence of earlier MOT records means the true mechanical wear pattern between tests cannot be verified. Lower annual mileage generally reduces wear on high-cycle consumables such as clutch, brake friction material and engine internals, but extended standing periods can bring their own issues, and the recorded advisories do suggest the vehicle has nonetheless been exposed to enough road use and environmental conditions to initiate structural and component corrosion. For a prospective buyer, the rear suspension corrosion flagged in 2023 and again in 2024 should be the priority inspection item. On a ramp or over a pit, the rear trailing arms, transverse links and any associated bushes should be examined for visible section loss, flaking rust scale, or movement when levered with a bar, as the advisory text indicates the assessor considered the corrosion present but not yet seriously weakened. On the road, listen for clonking or knocking from the rear axle over uneven surfaces, speed bumps and pothole impacts, and feel for any vagueness or wandering from the rear end during direction changes, as perished rear bushes commonly present this way. The nearside front shock absorber oil misting recorded in 2023 also merits attention; check for any fresh seepage down the shock body or onto the spring seat, and during the test drive listen for a rhythmic tapping or a lack of damping control over undulating road surfaces, particularly on the nearside front. The front brake disc advisory from 2022, where both inner disc faces were noted as worn, pitted or scored, suggests the discs may have been on the borderline of replacement at that point. On inspection, feel for a pronounced ridge on the outer and inner lip of each front disc, any judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm stopping, and any grinding or scraping noise, as scored discs beyond their service limit typically demand replacement rather than machining. The front tyres being worn close to the legal limit and on the edge in both 2022 and 2024 implies a possible tracking or camber issue rather than simple wear, so a four-wheel alignment check would be prudent, and any new tyres should be monitored for uneven shoulder wear across the next few thousand miles. Finally, the general structural corrosion advisory warrants a thorough walkaround looking for bubbling under the paint, visible scale along sills, subframe edges and wheel arches, and any areas where a blunt probe feels notably soft, as the assessor's note that rigidity was not significantly reduced still confirms active corrosion that will continue to develop.