2004 Ford KA 1.6L Petrol · LL04 AXB

The most recent official DVSA MOT test, conducted on 27 August 2025, resulted in a pass with no advisories or defects recorded, indicating that the vehicle met the statutory roadworthiness requirements at that point. Looking at the broader recent history, the vehicle passed in July 2023 and again in June 2024, with two failures recorded in between those tests: one on 27 June 2024, the day before a pass on 28 June 2024, and another on 6 July 2023, immediately followed by a pass on the same date. While the failures themselves carry no recorded defect details, the pattern of a test being failed and then immediately re-presented and passing on the following day is highly suggestive of minor, easily rectifiable issues such as a blown bulb, a top-up of washer fluid, or an adjustment to tyre pressure or headlamp aim. The overall trend therefore appears stable rather than indicative of any serious underlying mechanical deterioration, but the presence of two consecutive years containing failures does warrant a degree of cautious scrutiny from a prospective buyer. The recorded mileage of 50,287 miles against a vehicle age of approximately 22 years equates to an average annual usage of around 2,286 miles, which is exceptionally low for a car of this vintage. Such low mileage generally implies reduced wear on major drivetrain components such as the engine, clutch, and gearbox, but it also carries its own well-documented set of mechanical risks. Vehicles that cover very few miles per year frequently suffer from corrosion of brake discs due to prolonged standing, seized or binding brake calipers from infrequent operation, and perishing or cracking of rubber components including tyres, coolant hoses, drive belts, and suspension bushes. Rubber and polymer degradation in particular tends to advance with calendar age rather than mileage, meaning that a low-mileage 22-year-old Ka may still harbour time-expired consumables that would normally have been replaced earlier in a higher-mileage car. Battery health is another common concern with lightly used vehicles, as 12V batteries deteriorate from chronic partial state of charge and standing discharge, often leading to starting difficulties and voltage instability. Given the absence of any recorded advisories or defects in the visible MOT history, there is no specific recurring failure point to investigate further. However, a prospective buyer should nevertheless carry out a careful age-appropriate physical inspection. Tyres should be closely examined for sidewall cracking, perishing, and brittleness, as tyres fitted to low-mileage vehicles are often original or several years old and may fail the tread-depth requirement whilst still appearing superficially adequate. The braking system should be checked by attempting a firm stop from around 30 mph, listening for any grinding, scraping, or pulsation through the brake pedal that would suggest corroded discs or binding calipers, and the handbrake should be confirmed to hold the vehicle on an incline. All exterior and underbonnet rubber components, including the cambelt, auxiliary drive belts, coolant and fuel hoses, and the suspension bushes, should be inspected for cracking, hardening, or oil weeping from adjacent seals, and the cooling system should be checked for evidence of recent fluid replacement as the coolant itself has a finite service life regardless of mileage. On a test drive, particular attention should be paid to cold-start behaviour, listening for any hesitation, excessive smoke from the exhaust, or irregular idling that could indicate degraded fuel, ignition components, or vacuum hoses. Steering should be assessed for any knocking or clunking over bumps, which would suggest worn suspension bushes or top mounts common to a vehicle of this age, and the gearbox should be operated through all gears to confirm smooth selection without excessive baulk or whine. The exhaust should be examined for blowing gases at the manifold gasket, which is a known age-related issue on this model, and for any signs of corrosion at the mounting points and rear silencer. Finally, the service history should be verified to confirm that time-based items such as the cambelt replacement, which on the Ford Ka is typically due every four to five years or at lower mileage intervals, have been carried out in accordance with calendar age rather than the odometer reading, as a 22-year-old vehicle absolutely requires cambelt servicing regardless of its modest total mileage. A pre-purchase inspection by a competent independent technician is strongly recommended to satisfy all of these age-related concerns before committing to the purchase.