2009 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · LD09 PVL

A pattern of front-end suspension wear is the defining mechanical theme of this 2009 Ford Fiesta, with the front nearside ball joint failing in 2023 and accompanying advisories pointing to a steering rack inner joint and a rear axle bush that were already showing deterioration at the same test. The car passed its 2024 and 2025 tests with no defects recorded, indicating that the immediate safety-critical items were either rectified or have not yet deteriorated to failure point, but the cluster of chassis advisories from September 2023 should not be dismissed as a one-off. The rear exhaust shield advisory from 2022 is a minor cosmetic item, but taken together the record suggests a vehicle whose front and rear suspension components have begun to show their age, and a prospective buyer should treat the 2023 advisories as an early warning rather than a resolved history. Mileage accumulation on this Fiesta is broadly typical for its age, with 117,148 miles recorded over 17 years equating to roughly 6,891 miles per annum, which is consistent with regular but not exceptionally heavy use. There are no significant gaps in the MOT testing record, suggesting the vehicle has not been laid up for extended periods, so the recorded wear on consumables and chassis components is likely to be representative of a car that has been in continuous service. Given the annual mileage is moderate rather than low, components such as bushes, ball joints, dampers and brake discs will have accrued real-world wear rather than the dry-joint and corrosion issues often associated with low-mileage or stored vehicles. For a buyer, the priority on inspection is the front suspension and steering, which is exactly where the recorded defects were flagged. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces and during full-lock manoeuvres, as these are classic symptoms of a worn ball joint or steering rack inner joint that may have worsened since the 2023 advisory. With the steering off-centre, feel for any vagueness, looseness or a reluctance to self-centre, which would indicate progressing wear in the rack inner joint. The offside rear axle bush advisory from 2023 should also prompt a check for any knocking from the rear over undulations, uneven tyre wear across the rear axle, and a slight vagueness in directional changes at speed. It is also worth examining the offside front and nearside rear tyres closely for uneven inner or outer shoulder wear, as the 2023 advisory specifically flagged uneven wear on the nearside rear, which can be both a symptom and a cause of suspension misalignment. The 2022 rear exhaust shield advisory is a low-cost fix but should still be inspected, as a loose heat shield can rattle against the underbody on rough roads and, in extreme cases, allow the exhaust to move enough to foul on the floorpan or bodywork. A close visual inspection underneath the car is worthwhile, paying particular attention to the front subframe mounting area, the rear axle mounting points and the brake pipes for any surface corrosion, given the vehicle's age and its exposure to winter road conditions. Finally, with the 2024 and 2025 tests both clean, the car has demonstrably been maintained to a passable standard recently, but the 2023 chassis cluster means a pre-purchase inspection on a ramp by a technician who can physically load the suspension and check for play in the ball joints, track rod ends and axle bushes would be money well spent before committing.