2016 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Petrol · GV65 GVJ

The defining mechanical story for this 2016 Ford Fiesta is a long run of clean test passes interrupted only by isolated advisories, with the most recent MOT on 5 November 2025 producing a pass but flagging wear in the rear axle beam bushes. Across eight recorded tests since 2019, every result has been a pass with no failures recorded, and only two advisories have ever been raised: a sidewall cut on the offside front tyre in 2019 and the rear axle beam bush wear noted in late 2025. The trend is broadly stable rather than worsening, but the appearance of a structural axle component advisory in the latest test is the one area a buyer should not dismiss, as rear beam bush deterioration can progress once it begins and affects rear axle geometry and tracking. The mileage profile is notably low for a ten-year-old vehicle, with 26,170 recorded miles equating to roughly 2,617 miles per year on average. The annual accumulation between tests is consistent with short urban journeys or modest regular use rather than high-mileage motorway commuting, and there are no extended gaps in the testing record or sudden jumps in odometer readings. While low annual mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the clutch, gearbox and engine internals, it does mean the vehicle has spent considerable time standing between trips. This pattern tends to place greater stress on items that degrade through inactivity rather than use, including brake discs and calipers seizing through corrosion, rubber components perishing, and underbody protection and brake pipes being more exposed to long-term surface oxidation than they would be on a regularly driven car. Given that the rear axle beam bushes have been flagged as worn, a prospective buyer should pay close attention to the rear suspension behaviour on a test drive. With the car unladen, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear axle when traversing speed humps, potholes or broken surfaces, and check whether the rear end feels unsettled or whether the car darts sideways over sharp bumps. On a level road, feel for any vagueness or slight wandering at the rear under hard braking or during lane changes, which can indicate excessive play in the beam bushes allowing the axle to shift. Visually inspect the bushes from beneath if access is available, looking for cracking, splitting or visible displacement of the rubber from its metal housing, and check that the rear wheels sit squarely in their arches without uneven camber. It is also worth pushing laterally on each rear wheel at ground level to feel for any slack that would suggest the bushes have lost their locating function. The earlier advisory for an offside front tyre sidewall cut has long since been resolved through replacement, but the fact it was recorded at all is a useful prompt to inspect the sidewalls of all four tyres for bulges, cracking or scuffing, and to confirm the fitted tyres have adequate tread depth and matching load and speed ratings. Because of the low-mileage usage pattern, particular attention should be given to the braking system during the test drive: expect to feel any binding or roughness through the pedal at low speed, which would indicate seized caliper slide pins or pistons, and listen for scraping or grinding from the rear hubs when reversing. A standing vehicle with this profile is also more susceptible to underfloor surface corrosion and perished rubber brake lines, so a thorough inspection of the brake pipes, flexible hoses and underbody metalwork from beneath the car is advisable, paying close attention to any visible oxidation, bubbling paint or corrosion around mounting points.