2004 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · HD04 EWA

The 2004 Ford Fiesta presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 31 October 2025 at 130,452 miles with zero defects recorded. This is a strong result for a 22-year-old supermini. The prior test on 28 October 2024 also passed cleanly at 119,661 miles, but that followed a failure just three days earlier on 25 October 2024 at the identical mileage. That failure flagged an excessively corroded offside rear brake pipe and a non-working nearside front position lamp. Both were rectified before the retest, suggesting the previous owner addressed the corrosion and electrical fault promptly rather than deferring repairs. No further advisories or failures have appeared since, indicating the underlying issues were resolved rather than temporarily patched. The mileage accumulation tells a story of very light use. Between the October 2024 pass at 119,661 miles and the October 2025 pass at 130,452 miles, the car covered 10,791 miles in twelve months, a notable jump compared to the preceding years. From November 2023 at 108,522 miles to October 2024 at 119,661 miles, the car added 11,139 miles, and from October 2022 at 96,499 miles to November 2023 at 108,522 miles, it covered 12,023 miles. The annualised rate sits around 5,930 miles per year over the car's life, well below the UK average, but the recent two years show a marked increase in usage. The gap between the 2022 and 2023 tests is just over thirteen months, slightly longer than a standard annual cycle, though not alarmingly so. Buyers should focus their in-person inspection on the braking system and structural corrosion. The 2024 failure for an excessively corroded offside rear brake pipe is the most significant flag in the record. Even though it passed retest, a corroded brake pipe on a 22-year-old Fiesta raises questions about the condition of the remaining pipework, particularly along the underside and around the rear axle where road salt and moisture accumulate. Have a technician inspect the full length of the brake lines for surface corrosion, weeping, or bulging. The offside rear area in particular warrants a close look. The nail in the offside rear tyre flagged in November 2023 is a minor consumable issue, but it does suggest the previous owner may not have been proactive about tyre condition between services. Check all four tyres for uneven tread wear, sidewall damage, and age-related cracking, especially if the car has spent long periods stationary given its historically low mileage. Beyond the brakes, examine the suspension bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers for wear consistent with a car that may have spent extended periods sitting unused, which can cause bush perishing and damper seal degradation. The exhaust system should be checked for corrosion, particularly the rear silencer and any joints. With the recent uptick in mileage, verify that the engine idles smoothly and that exhaust emissions remain stable under load, as long periods of short journeys can cause carbon buildup and catalytic converter inefficiency. The clean 2025 result is encouraging, but a pre-purchase inspection focused on the underside and braking system remains essential for a car of this age.