2017 Ford Focus 1.0L Petrol · LL17 HCZ

This 2017 Ford Focus presents a broadly reassuring test record punctuated only by minor, quickly rectified defects. Across six recorded examinations it has never failed on anything structural, safety-critical, or mechanical: the two failures on file are a blown offside front position lamp in June 2026 and an insufficient windscreen washer supply in July 2025, both of which were passed on retest the same day. The most recent examination on 30 June 2026 resulted in a pass with only a procedural note that items were removed from the driver's view prior to the test. The overall trend is stable rather than worsening, with two entirely clean passes in 2022 and 2024 and no recurring defect pattern beyond a single suspension advisory. The recorded mileage of 43,798 over roughly nine years equates to approximately 4,866 miles annually, which is low for a car of this age. Test intervals have been consistent, with examinations falling in late June or early July each year apart from an October 2021 test, and there are no gaps suggesting extended periods off the road. This steady, light use is consistent with the limited wear evident in the history, though low annual mileage does mean the tyres flagged in 2023 for slight cracking and perishing on the nearside front and offside rear may have aged rather than worn out, and the buyer should confirm whether they have since been replaced, as perished rubber deteriorates further with time regardless of tread depth. The one item meriting close inspection is the offside rear shock absorber, which was noted in July 2025 with a light misting of oil. A misting damper is an early-stage seep rather than a failure, but it can progress to a leak that would constitute a test failure and degrade rear-end composure. On a test drive, listen for knocking or rattling from the rear over broken surfaces and feel for excessive bouncing or wallowing through undulating bends, which would indicate the damper has deteriorated. A physical inspection of the shock absorber body for wet oil, rather than a dry film, is worthwhile, and the buyer should budget for a replacement pair of rear dampers if the seepage has advanced. Beyond the damper, checks should be modest. Confirm the offside front position lamp and both washer jets operate correctly, since both have previously caused failures, and verify the screenwash system delivers a strong spray to both sides of the windscreen. The 2023 tyre advisories warrant a close look at the sidewalls of all four tyres for cracking, particularly if any of the original tyres remain fitted. With no advisories for corrosion, brakes, steering, or structural items anywhere in the record, the documented history contains nothing to suggest underlying mechanical concerns, though a pre-purchase inspection remains prudent given that MOT history alone cannot establish the condition of components never flagged at test.