2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · GL10 WYP

The defining mechanical concern with this 2010 Ford Fiesta centres on its front suspension, which has now been flagged in two consecutive MOT tests with progressively more serious findings. At the most recent test on 21 November 2025 the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint was classified as excessively worn, constituting a Major defect and causing the test to fail outright, while the nearside equivalent was only recorded as a Minor due to a severely deteriorated dust cover. Earlier, on 17 November 2022, the offside front inner tyre was deemed Dangerous with exposed ply or cords, and both front brake discs were noted as worn, pitted or scored. A further failure on 21 November 2023 for incorrect colour rear direction indicators (a PRS item easily remedied) is comparatively trivial, but the recurrence of suspension and braking advisories on the fronts suggests that wear in these assemblies is advancing rather than retreating. Against a sixteen-year vehicle age, the recorded mileage of 65,660 equates to an annual average of roughly 4,100 miles, which is notably low. The MOT history itself, however, is densely populated for a low-mileage car, with tests recorded in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, indicating the vehicle has been in active use throughout this period. MOT testing is annual for vehicles over three years old, so four successful entries over five years do not in themselves suggest unusual usage, but the modest annual mileage implies shorter journeys and a higher proportion of cold starts, which can accelerate corrosion in brake components, harden rubber boots and bushes, and encourage tyre perishing on the sidewalls. The rear tyre cracking and perishing advisory recorded in November 2025 is consistent with rubber ageing rather than outright wear, and is a typical consequence of low cumulative mileage. For a prospective buyer, the priority on any inspection must be the front suspension geometry, given that both lower ball joints have now attracted attention. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces and when turning into kerbs at low speed, and feel for any vagueness or notchiness through the steering. With the vehicle raised or the wheels unloaded, the ball joints should be checked for free play by hand, and the condition of the lower arm bushes and drop links assessed, as these often deteriorate in tandem on a Fiesta of this age. The 2022 advisories regarding pitted front brake discs and the 2025 rear engine mounting damage should also be followed up; expect to feel any brake shudder or judder through the pedal under firm stopping, and listen for engine movement or vibration on throttle lift-off that could indicate the rear mounting has worsened beyond its previously recorded state. Tyre condition warrants close physical inspection given the pattern of recorded issues. The November 2025 advisories describe sidewall cracking and perishing on the offside rear, together with a nearside rear outer cut not penetrating to the ply, while the 2022 Dangerous tyre was an inner edge failure on the offside front. These entries indicate a tendency towards uneven and edge-related wear as well as age-related rubber degradation, so all four tyres should be examined for tread depth across the full width, sidewall cracking, and any bulges or exposed cords, particularly on the inner shoulders where tracking or suspension wear can concentrate. Any directional indicators should be checked for correct amber colouration to avoid a repeat of the 2023 failure, and a general under-bonnet inspection for oil leaks, coolant condition and corrosion on brake pipes and the subframe area is advisable given the vehicle's age, even where no specific corrosion advisories have yet been recorded.