2016 Ford Ecosport 1.0L Petrol · GV66 DDE

A clean and consistent pattern of MOT outcomes defines this 2016 Ford EcoSport, with the most recent test on 1 October 2025 returning a pass alongside a separate failure entry on the same date. Notably, no advisory notices, defects, or failure items have been recorded across any of the documented tests in 2023, 2024, or 2025, and the same absence of defects applies to the 2024 pass and failure pair. This is unusual because failed tests typically list the specific reasons for refusal, and the blank record across all four entries suggests either administrative data gaps or the vehicle being presented for retest with no recorded defects after a prior issue was rectified off-record. Either way, the visible roadworthiness trend is stable, with no accumulated advisories pointing to chronic wear items such as corroded brake lines, perished suspension bushes, or worn coil springs. Against a ten-year vehicle age, the recorded mileage of 36,245 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 3,624 miles, which is markedly low for the sector. The MOT record shows tests at 2023-10-02, 2024-09-30, and 2025-10-01, indicating the car has been exercised consistently and presented annually, which helps mitigate the usual risks associated with low-mileage use such as brake disc corrosion from infrequent application, brake caliper seizure, and flat-spotted tyres. There is a continuous testing history with no significant gaps between annual submissions, suggesting the vehicle has remained in active road use rather than being stored for extended periods. The combination of regular annual use and modest annual mileage points to light-duty operation, predominantly short-journey urban driving given the EcoSport's typical role, which keeps wear on higher-mileage components like clutches and turbochargines to a minimum but can still expose brake components to corrosion from moisture that is not burned off through sustained driving. Given the absence of specific advisories, the inspection focus shifts to components commonly affected on a 2016 EcoSport of this age and use profile. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly from the lower control arm bushes and anti-roll bar drop links, which are known wear items on this platform. Feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering wheel during slow-speed manoeuvres, as the electric power steering rack mounting and column can develop play. Check the rear drum brakes for binding by confirming the handbrake releases cleanly and the vehicle rolls freely on a flat surface when the handbrake is off, and inspect the front discs for a lip of corrosion on the outer edge that could cause pedal judder under braking. Although the MOT record offers no specific defect guidance, particular attention should be paid to the underbody and subframe mounting points for surface corrosion typical of a ten-year-old vehicle, and to the exhaust system for signs of corrosion at the rear mounting and flex joint, areas not always fully visible from above. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp remains advisable given the sparse advisory record and the vehicle's age.