2010 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · KW10 HPZ

Corrosion of the front and rear subframes is the defining mechanical concern on this 2010 Ford Focus, having appeared on consecutive tests in 2024 and 2025 alongside recurring wear in the front suspension arm bushes. The car passed its latest examination on 26 August 2025, but the advisory list has grown rather than shrunk: both front and rear subframes are now described as rusty, both front lower suspension arm rear bushes are worn, and two tyres were flagged as close to the legal limit. The trend is one of gradual deterioration rather than resolution, and the 2023 test history reinforces this, with a dangerous failure for a fractured offside rear anti-roll bar linkage on 21 August 2023 before a pass was recorded nine days later, indicating the component was replaced to secure the certificate. A corroded rear subframe mounting area was also noted in 2024, so the structural picture extends beyond surface rust on a single component. The recorded mileage of 84,724 miles over roughly sixteen years equates to around 5,295 miles per year, which is modest for a car of this age. The annual test dates fall consistently in late August each year with no gaps in the record, suggesting continuous use rather than extended lay-up. This pattern of steady but light use is consistent with the wear profile seen: tyres repeatedly wearing on edges rather than centres, suspension bushes deteriorating with age as much as mileage, and corrosion advancing on structural components that see road salt and moisture regardless of how few miles are covered. Low annual mileage has not spared this car the age-related degradation typical of a fifteen-year-old Ford. A prospective buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the subframes before any money changes hands. The front subframe was described in 2024 as corroded but not seriously weakened, and both subframes were again flagged as rusty in 2025, so the progression of that corrosion needs assessing on a ramp with a screwdriver or pick to test metal thickness, particularly around the rear subframe mounting points previously noted as a prescribed area. Surface rust is tolerable on a car of this age, but flaking, perforated, or softened metal near suspension or mounting points is a structural and financial problem that will eventually fail an MOT outright. On the test drive, listen for knocking or clonking from the front over bumps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate the worn front lower arm rear bushes have deteriorated beyond advisory condition, and check for any vagueness or wandering in the steering. Given the fractured rear anti-roll bar linkage in 2023, confirm the replacement and listen for rattles from the rear over broken tarmac, as the nearside link may be similarly aged. Examine all four tyres for inner-edge wear, which has been flagged repeatedly and suggests possible tracking or alignment issues worth correcting, and verify the exhaust heat shield noted as insecure in 2024 has been refastened, as a loose shield produces an obvious buzz or rattle at certain engine speeds. Finally, the windscreen damage recorded in 2023 should be checked to confirm it was repaired or the glass replaced.