2008 Ford KA 1.3L Petrol · KO08 LDF

The 2008 Ford Ka currently holds no valid MOT, having failed its most recent test on 23 May 2025 at 92,989 miles. That failure reveals a sharply worsening maintenance trend. A fractured offside front coil spring and excessive transmission oil leak are serious mechanical faults, but the most concerning items are the multiple seat belt anchorage defects. The tester flagged significantly reduced strength or continuity at the nearside and offside front floor and inner sill areas, plus both rear inner arches. These are structural integrity failures that directly compromise occupant restraint in a collision. The record also shows excessively corroded suspension mounting points on both outer sills and worn front suspension arm bushes, indicating the vehicle's underside has deteriorated significantly in the last year. The mileage pattern tells a story of very light use followed by a notable gap. Between the January 2022 pass at 74,724 miles and the January 2023 pass at 88,170 miles, the car covered roughly 13,446 miles in twelve months. Yet from January 2023 through the May 2025 failure, the odometer moved just 4,819 miles over more than two years. That is extremely low annualised use, and the long period without a recorded MOT between January 2023 and May 2024 raises questions about whether the car was stored or left standing for extended periods. Prolonged sitting can accelerate corrosion of brake components, suspension seals, and structural metalwork, which aligns with the severity of the defects now showing up. A buyer should treat the structural corrosion as the primary concern. The failed seat belt anchorage points on the front floors, inner sills, and rear inner arches suggest the vehicle's body shell has corroded to a point where it may no longer meet minimum strength requirements. Any inspection must include a thorough check of these areas with a probe or hammer, not just a visual look from above. The fractured coil spring and corroded outer sill suspension mountings point to a front end that needs significant work before the car can pass re-test. The excessive transmission oil leak also demands attention, as it could indicate a failing input shaft seal or gearbox issue that may worsen quickly. Beyond the failure items, the recurring advisories paint a picture of neglected basic upkeep. Worn front suspension arm bushes appeared in 2022, 2024, and 2025 without being replaced. Front brake discs have been flagged as worn and pitted since 2024, and multiple advisories for tyres worn to the legal limit suggest the previous owner was not keeping on top of consumable replacements. A prospective buyer should have the underside inspected on a ramp, paying close attention to the structural metalwork around all seat belt mounting points, the condition of the transmission for oil loss, and whether the corroded sill areas can be repaired economically or require welding and certification.