2016 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · LL16 OLC

A pattern of late-life wear advisories is emerging on this 2016 Ford Fiesta, most clearly demonstrated at the most recent test on 17 October 2025 where the vehicle passed but carried four separate advisory items. These were spread across the steering, rear suspension, and front braking system, suggesting that the car is moving beyond its low-wear early life and into a phase where consumables and jointed components are beginning to show their age. The earlier MOT history supports a trend of generally clean roadworthiness through 2022 and 2024, with a failed test on 20 October 2022 attributable to relatively minor electrical defects rather than any structural or mechanical failure. The 2025 advisory accumulation therefore represents a noticeable shift in the condition profile and warrants closer inspection of the flagged assemblies before purchase. Covering 98,876 miles over roughly ten years, this Fiesta has been driven at an annual average of around 9,888 miles, which sits close to the typical usage band for a car of this age. The recorded odometer readings imply steady, consistent use rather than long periods off the road or unusually heavy motorway mileage. There are no significant gaps between successive tests and no sudden mileage jumps that would suggest clock irregularities or missed tests during extended lay-ups, so the wear observed in the advisories should be viewed as the natural accumulation of a decade of mixed driving rather than the result of neglect or stagnation. Mechanically, this level of use places the clutch, dual-mass components if fitted, suspension bushes, and brake components firmly within their service-life expectations, and the advisories recorded are consistent with what one would expect from a Fiesta approaching 100,000 miles. The steering rack inner joint play flagged on the offside is a specific item to monitor closely, as rack wear typically progresses gradually and can manifest as a vague or loose feel around the straight-ahead position, with any clonking or knocking transmitted through the steering wheel over uneven surfaces being a warning sign of further deterioration. The rear suspension main axle bushes on both sides showing wear is also worth attention, since worn trailing arm or axle bushes on a Fiesta commonly present as a slight rear-end vagueness over bumps or a mild wandering sensation at higher speeds, and they tend to worsen once movement becomes pronounced. During a test drive, pay particular attention to any knocking from the rear when travelling over broken tarmac, and check visually for perishing or cracking in the rubber bush eyes when the vehicle is raised. The front brake disc lip corrosion and surface pitting recorded on the 2025 test is consistent with the higher annual mileage and the age of the components, and on inspection the buyer should look for pronounced lipping at the disc edges, any judder through the steering wheel under firm braking, and the overall thickness of the discs against the manufacturer minimum. Binding calipers are a known Fiesta issue and can be detected by feeling for uneven pad wear, a dragging sensation after release, or one wheel running noticeably hotter than the others after a drive. Beyond the advisories, the failed stop lamp and washer issues from 2022 are inexpensive electrical items unlikely to recur, but the buyer should still verify full operation of all exterior lighting, the horn, and the washers prior to purchase. A raised inspection to confirm the play in the steering rack joint and to check for any fluid seepage around the rack gaiters would be a sensible precaution given the advisory.