2014 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · JB04 DAW

A repeated pattern of suspension and under-bonnet wear, rather than a clean test record, defines the mechanical profile of this 2014 Ford Fiesta. Across four MOT tests between December 2024 and July 2026 the vehicle has been presented twice and failed both times, with the most recent attempt on 28 July 2026 being a pass achieved only four days after a failure on 24 July 2026. The failure that preceded the pass identified a Major defect for excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint alongside advisories for both rear tyres worn on edge and corrosion on both rear coil springs. The earlier December 2025 episode was even more serious, resulting in a Major defect for an inoperative or malfunctioning Engine MIL (Management Indicator Lamp), indicating an active engine management fault at the time of test, paired with advisories for oil leaks, a corroded nearside rear coil spring, and a minor exhaust leak from the back box. Taken together, the record suggests a vehicle that is presently on the road but carrying accumulated wear in the suspension and powertrain areas that any prospective buyer should treat as live rather than historical. The Fiesta has covered 100,749 miles over roughly twelve years, which equates to an average annual accumulation of around 8,396 miles, a figure broadly in line with typical private use for a car of this age. The mileage progression between tests is consistent and incremental, with no recorded gaps that would suggest a prolonged period off the road. There is therefore no specific concern about long-standing inactivity that would prejudice components such as the braking system or 12V battery, and the relatively steady annual mileage points to a car that has been in regular service. However, that regular use at twelve years of age brings with it a corresponding duty of attention to wear items, and the advisory pattern on this particular vehicle is consistent with a high-mileage small car approaching the stage where original suspension and engine sealing components begin to deteriorate. A buyer should focus the physical inspection and test drive on the components that have already triggered advisories. With a Major defect having been recorded against the nearside front suspension arm ball joint as recently as July 2026, that joint should be considered the single highest-priority check. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking noise from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, pay particular attention to any vibration or vagueness through the steering wheel that worsens over broken tarmac, and watch for uneven front tyre wear that would suggest the geometry has been disturbed by worn suspension linkages. The fact that both rear coil springs were flagged for corrosion only four days before the latest pass means the rear ride height should be visually compared corner to corner, and the car should be observed from behind to confirm it is sitting level. Any knocking from the rear over bumps would suggest the spring seats or spring bases have deteriorated further since the advisory was raised. The remaining advisories carry their own specific inspection points. The engine oil leak advisories from December 2025 should prompt a careful look underneath the car on a dry day for fresh oil residue around the drive shaft seals and along the underside of the engine and bellhousing, while the test drive should include a warm engine idle check to confirm the management indicator lamp extinguishes promptly on start-up, since the December 2025 Major defect recorded the MIL as inoperative or indicating a malfunction. The exhaust back box was flagged with a minor gas leak, so listen at idle for any ticking or hissing from the rear silencer area and feel for exhaust fumes behind the car. With both rear tyres having been recorded as worn on edge on consecutive tests, the new tyres fitted after the July 2026 fail should be inspected closely for inner-edge wear, which on a Fiesta often points to either rear wheel alignment issues or worn rear suspension bushes. Finally, while the front and rear registration plates were noted as deteriorated and the bodywork is twelve years old, a buyer should walk around the car looking for fresh rust around the wheel arches, sills, and rear subframe mounting areas, as coil spring corrosion on a Fiesta of this vintage is frequently an early indicator of broader structural corrosion that MOT testers are obliged to escalate once it becomes excessive.