2012 Ford Mondeo 1.6L Diesel · LF62 XDS

The 2012 Ford Mondeo presents a mixed maintenance picture. Its most recent MOT on 22 January 2026 at 114,051 miles passed, yet the tester flagged corrosion on both rear suspension arms and worn trailing arm bushes, alongside thin rear brake pads. These advisories indicate the car is being used with known suspension and braking wear items left unaddressed for at least several months. The trend is not cleanly improving; a recurring rear suspension bush issue has persisted across multiple tests, and new corrosion has emerged, suggesting the car may have spent periods standing or been driven on salted roads without underbody protection. The mileage accumulation is broadly typical for a 14-year-old car, averaging roughly 8,146 miles per year. The record shows a jump of 9,554 miles between October 2023 at 96,593 miles and October 2024 at 106,147 miles, then a further 7,904 miles to January 2026 at 114,051 miles. No large gaps or sudden drops appear in the data, but the recent acceleration in annual mileage after a quieter period could mean the car has returned to more regular use, potentially masking long-term corrosion issues from standing. The recurring defect to watch is the rear suspension arm pin or bush wear, flagged in October 2024 and again in January 2026. Combined with the fresh advisory for corroded rear suspension arms, a buyer should have the rear subframe, trailing arm mounting points, and coil spring seats inspected for structural corrosion, not just surface rust. The January 2026 advisory for thin rear brake pads, paired with the absence of any recorded disc replacement in the visible history, suggests the rear braking system may be running on original or very old components. A physical inspection should include measuring rear disc thickness and checking caliper slides for binding. The October 2024 failure for a worn nearside front track rod end ball joint was rectified before the pass, but the front tyre wear pattern noted in both October 2024 tests points to possible alignment or suspension geometry issues that may have returned. A buyer should check inner and outer tyre wear, test for steering play, and verify the condition of the front wishbone bushes. The headlamp aim and bulb failures in 2023 and 2024 appear resolved, but a quick check of beam pattern and dashboard bulb warnings remains worthwhile.