2010 Ford KA 1.2L Petrol · GP10 AAN

A clear pattern of front suspension and front tyre wear emerges as the defining mechanical characteristic of this 2010 Ford Ka, with two failures in quick succession during 2021 to 2023 both centred on the nearside and offside front axle components. The 2022 test recorded a major defect for excessive wear on the nearside front suspension arm pin or bush alongside a major for the offside front suspension arm ball joint, indicating that the front lower wishbone assembly had reached the end of its service life. The following year, the 2023 failure shifted focus to the damping system with a serious fluid leak from the nearside front shock absorber and light oil misting on the offside unit, suggesting the dampers were also due for replacement around the same period. The most recent test on 22 April 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories recorded, which is a positive outcome, but the four-year window prior shows a vehicle that needed significant front-end mechanical intervention to restore roadworthiness. Against an age of roughly sixteen years, the recorded 50,793 miles equates to approximately 3,175 miles annually, which is markedly low for the class and age. The MOT record itself is consistent and continuous from 2021 onwards with no extended gaps, indicating the car has been presented for testing every year without long periods off the road, despite the modest annual mileage. This kind of low usage on a small city-oriented Ford Ka of this era typically means shorter journeys where the engine and exhaust do not always reach full operating temperature, which can accelerate corrosion on underbody steel components and allow moisture to accumulate in the front strut assemblies. The combination of low annual mileage and the front suspension failures recorded is therefore consistent with components that have aged through standing time as much as through mechanical wear. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area is the entire front suspension and steering assembly, given that both the front lower arm bushes or ball joints and the front shock absorbers have previously been condemned. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and during full-lock manoeuvres, and feel for vagueness or looseness through the steering wheel that was not present when the car was new. Push and rock each front wheel at the three and nine o'clock positions to check for any remaining play in the suspension arms or drop links, and visually inspect the front struts for any fresh oil weeping down the body of the damper or pooling on the top mount. Pay particular attention to the quality and condition of any replacement components, as inferior pattern parts on a Ka of this age frequently fail within a short service life. The persistent advisory for edge wear on the front tyres, recorded at three consecutive tests between 2022 and 2023, is another practical concern that warrants investigation. Uneven or inner-edge wear on the front tyres of a front-wheel-drive Ka is commonly linked to worn suspension bushes, weakened springs, or incorrect tracking following any front-end component replacement, so the camber and toe geometry should be checked with a four-wheel alignment gauge if the tyres are wearing prematurely again. During a road test, listen for any rhythmic drone or hum from the front tyres that could indicate abnormal wear pattern, and verify that the steering returns to centre smoothly without drift. Finally, inspect the front brake discs and pads for any scoring or lipping, since the previous suspension wear would have placed uneven loading on the braking system, and confirm that the wipers clear the screen effectively, as both front wiper mechanisms were flagged as failing to clear properly during the 2021 test.