2009 Ford Fiesta 1.6L Petrol · LL58 WVR

The most recent DVSA examination on this 2009 Ford Fiesta took place on 2 November 2023, where the vehicle achieved a Pass certificate with no advisories or defects recorded. Prior to that pass, there was an immediate fail issued on the same date, which is unusual and suggests the vehicle was presented with a defect, rectified on site or shortly afterwards, and then re-presented for retest before the certificate was issued. Historical entries show a further pass on 5 October 2022 and a corresponding fail on 27 September 2022, following the same presentation pattern, alongside a clean pass on 19 October 2021. With no defects or advisories captured on any of the recorded tests, the maintenance trend appears stable, though the duplicate pass-fail pairs suggest that minor items may have been addressed just prior to testing each year. Overall, the absence of recorded advisories is encouraging but does not guarantee underlying mechanical condition, particularly given the vehicle's age. With a recorded odometer reading of 101,600 miles across approximately seventeen years, annual usage averages around 5,976 miles, which is notably low for a car of this vintage. Such modest annual mileage typically indicates either limited use, predominantly short journeys, or extended periods of standing. Low-mileage examples tend to suffer less wear on internal drivetrain components but are particularly susceptible to issues arising from inactivity, including brake disc corrosion, seized or binding calipers, deteriorated rubber components, and degradation of time-sensitive fluids. The MOT history covers only the last three years, leaving earlier service and mileage continuity unverified from the DVSA record alone, so cross-referencing against the service book and any previous MoT certificates would be advisable to confirm whether the indicated mileage is plausible and continuous. Given the clean advisory history and the low annual mileage, physical inspection should focus on items that deteriorate with calendar age rather than purely with use. Tyres should be examined closely for sidewall perishing, cracking, and tread depth, as older tyres can harden and lose grip even when tread remains adequate; any tyres fitted before 2020 should be replaced regardless of tread. The braking system warrants careful attention, including a check for corroded or scored brake discs, seized caliper slides or pistons, and perished flexible brake hoses, all of which can develop during prolonged standing. A thorough road test should look for pulling under braking, a spongy pedal, or any grinding or scraping noises that suggest corrosion has lifted onto the pad surfaces. Beyond braking and tyres, the buyer should evaluate items subject to time-based degradation. The 12-volt battery is likely original or several years old and should be load-tested, as infrequent short trips rarely maintain a full state of charge and a borderline battery can cause erratic electrical behaviour. Coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid should be checked for age and condition, with brake fluid particularly important as it is hygroscopic and should be renewed irrespective of mileage every two to three years. The underside should be inspected on a ramp for surface corrosion, condition of suspension bushes, coil springs, anti-roll bar links, and exhaust integrity, paying particular attention to any oil leaks from the engine or transmission seals. Finally, verify that the service book contains stamps at regular intervals and that the cambelt or timing chain replacement history is documented, as this is critical on a 1.25 or 1.4 Duratec engine of this age.