2012 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · KK08 ANE

The defining mechanical theme across this Fiesta's MOT record is a pattern of recurring advisory items concentrated around the front braking system, the front wheel bearings, and the rear axle bushes, punctuated by two failures in 2021 and 2023. The 2021 test recorded a dangerous defect for a bulging nearside front tyre due to structural separation, alongside advisories for worn front brake discs, noisy front wheel bearings on both sides, deteriorating rear number plate, and worn rear axle bushes. The 2023 test produced a fail for an insecure bonnet and incorrectly coloured rear direction indicators, with the same rear axle bush wear noted. By the 2024 test, the front brake discs and pads were flagged as worn, the offside front anti-roll bar linkage was showing play, and the rear axle bush advisory had returned. The two most recent tests in 2025 and 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories recorded, which is a positive sign, but the cumulative picture shows that consumable and chassis components have been steadily flagged throughout the vehicle's testing life rather than only once. Against a 14-year age span, the recorded 90,876 miles equates to roughly 6,491 miles annually, which sits comfortably within the typical range for a car of this vintage and avoids the extremes of either very low or very high accumulation. There are no extended gaps in the MOT history that would imply long periods off the road, and the continuous annual testing pattern suggests the vehicle has been in regular use. From a mechanical standpoint, this kind of average-to-moderate mileage means wear should be proportionate rather than accelerated, but it also means the consumables flagged repeatedly over the years, namely the front brake discs, pads, wheel bearings, and suspension components, have had genuine working use rather than being degraded solely by age or standing still. The failure of the tyre in 2021 and the brake disc advisories in 2021 and 2024 are consistent with a car covering real-world miles in mixed conditions. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas are the front braking system, front wheel bearings, rear axle bushes, and the anti-roll bar linkage. The front brake discs have now been flagged on two separate occasions, in 2021 and 2024, with brake pad wear additionally noted in 2024; on inspection, the discs should be checked for lipping, surface corrosion pitting, and minimum thickness, while the pads should be measured for remaining friction material. On a test drive, any pulsation through the brake pedal, pulling to one side under heavy braking, or a grinding or squealing noise from the front wheels would warrant further investigation. The front wheel bearings, which have appeared as noisy on both sides across multiple tests from 2021 through 2022, should be assessed by jacking each front wheel and rocking it to detect play, and a rotational hum that changes with speed or cornering would confirm deterioration. The rear axle bushes and front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint should be checked for perished rubber, cracking, or excessive movement, with symptoms including clonks or knocking over speed humps, vague or wandering steering, and uneven tyre wear across the rear axle. A useful secondary check is the bonnet catch and the rear lamp units, given the 2023 failure for the bonnet not securing in the closed position and both rear direction indicators being of incorrect colour. The bonnet latch and striker should be operated several times to confirm positive engagement, and the rear light clusters inspected to ensure the indicator lenses are uncoloured or correctly amber rather than red. The rear number plate deterioration noted in 2021 and 2022 is a minor point but worth verifying has not worsened to the point of being illegible. Finally, although no corrosion advisories appear in the recorded history, a walkaround paying particular attention to the front subframe mounting points, inner wheel arches, and suspension strut tops is advisable on a 14-year-old Fiesta, as these are known areas for surface corrosion once the factory protection breaks down.