2015 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Petrol · HN15 HMH

The most recent DVSA examination on 27 February 2026 resulted in a Pass, although the tester recorded four advisories which a prospective buyer should not overlook. The maintenance trend over the recorded period is broadly stable, with the vehicle consistently passing its annual roadworthiness test, but there is a clear pattern of accumulating wear-related advisories affecting the suspension, braking, and tyres across successive tests. A failure in February 2025 was driven by an inoperative headlamp levelling device and a dangerously bulged offside front tyre, which were rectified prior to the subsequent pass. The presence of multiple advisories on the most recent pass, combined with the rising frequency of tyre and suspension items flagged over the past four years, suggests that the vehicle is entering a phase where several consumable and wear components will require attention in the near future. Buyers should treat the overall record as that of a car which has been used regularly and maintained to a pass standard, but which is now showing the expected age-related deterioration of key mechanical items. The recorded mileage of 85,556 miles over an eleven-year period equates to an average of approximately 7,778 miles per annum, which is broadly typical for a small family hatchback of this age and is consistent with regular mixed-use driving rather than long-term storage or exclusively motorway mileage. There are no unusually large gaps between recorded tests that would suggest the vehicle has been laid up for extended periods, which reduces the likelihood of severe standing-related corrosion, seized brake calipers, or severely degraded fluids. However, eleven years and over 85,000 miles of normal service means that major mechanical assemblies including the clutch, water pump, timing belt or chain service (depending on engine variant), suspension bushes, exhaust mountings, and the cooling system will have experienced significant cumulative wear. The mileage trend itself does not raise immediate concerns, but it does reinforce the need for a thorough physical inspection of higher-mileage wear items that fall outside the scope of the MOT test. Looking at the recurring defect history, the offside rear axle swivel pin and bush has been flagged as slightly worn in both 2025 and again as an advisory area, and combined with the recorded slight play in the offside front track rod end ball joint from the 2026 test, the front and rear suspension geometry is showing clear signs of age-related wear. On a test drive, the buyer should listen carefully for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, vagueness or wandering in the steering, and any irregular tyre wear particularly on the inner or outer edges of the front tyres, which would indicate advancing bush degradation. The nearside rear shock absorber showing light oil misting in 2026 is also a classic advisory that typically progresses over time, so the buyer should test the rear of the car over undulating road surfaces and listen for any bubbling or knocking from the rear dampers, and inspect for staining on the shock body. The 2023 advisory of a fluctuating rear service brake, while not excessive at the time, warrants specific attention, as this often points to a binding or sticking rear caliper or a partially seized wheel cylinder, and on test the buyer should feel for any pulling to one side under braking or detect a rear wheel running warmer than the opposite side after a sustained stop. Brake disc corrosion on a Fiesta of this age and mileage is common, particularly if the car has been used for short journeys, and may manifest as a judder or shudder through the steering wheel under light braking before dissipating as the brakes warm. The tyre-related advisories across multiple tests are particularly relevant. The nearside rear and offside rear tyres were flagged in 2026 for cracking, perishing, and tread deformation on the inside, and a nearside rear tyre was previously deemed dangerous at under 1.6mm tread depth in 2022, suggesting a recurring pattern of inner-tyre wear likely linked to the rear suspension geometry and axle swivel bushes previously noted. Even where tread depth is legal, age-related perishing of the rubber compound becomes a serious safety concern on an eleven-year-old vehicle, and the buyer should physically inspect all four tyres and the spare for sidewall cracking, bulges, and uneven inner-edge wear, replacing any tyres showing signs of structural deterioration regardless of remaining tread. Given the calendar age, a prospective buyer should also budget for a replacement 12V battery if it has not been changed recently, as batteries beyond five years of age are prone to sudden failure particularly in colder weather. The minor exhaust flexi leak recorded in 2022 should be checked to confirm whether a repair has been carried out since, as perished exhaust flexi joints produce characteristic ticking noises on cold start and can worsen with thermal cycling. Finally, regardless of what the MOT record shows, the buyer should verify that the cambelt or timing chain service interval (depending on the specific Fiesta engine fitted), coolant renewal, brake fluid renewal, and transmission fluid checks are all up to date by reference to the service book, as these time-based fluid and belt services are not assessed at MOT and are essential to the long-term mechanical integrity of a vehicle of this age and mileage.