2009 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · LR09 KTV

The defining mechanical story of this 2009 Ford Fiesta is one of chronic, recurring advisories concentrated around its suspension, exhaust, and road wheels, with two outright failures in 2021 and 2022 punctuating the record. The most recent test on 2025-02-01 was a pass, but it carried advisories for slight play in the offside front track rod end ball joint and a minor exhaust gas leak from the front flexi. Looking across the seven recorded tests, a clear pattern emerges: suspension component wear (lower arm ball joints in 2022, trailing arm bushes both sides in 2021, track rod end in 2025), recurring exhaust flex pipe deterioration (2020, 2022, 2025), and persistent distortion of multiple road wheels (front and nearside rear flagged in 2020, 2021, and 2022). The two failures are also revealing, with a fractured offside rear coil spring and ineffective wiper sweep in 2022, and a non-functional offside stop lamp plus a tyre fitted against side wall instructions in 2021. The overall trajectory is not deteriorating sharply, but the advisories are not clearing up either; they are rotating around the same high-mileage wear points year after year. Against an age of roughly 17 years, the recorded mileage of 194,798 equates to approximately 11,459 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this vintage and class. The mileage progression across the MOT record is broadly consistent, with no obvious gaps that would suggest long periods off the road, nor any sudden spikes indicative of towing or motorway-only use. At this accumulated mileage, consumables such as brake discs, pads, tyres, and suspension bushes have typically been through multiple replacement cycles, and drivetrain components including clutches, engine mounts, and gearbox linkages are reaching the later stage of their expected service life. The fact that the wear pattern is so consistent with high-mileage use, rather than presenting any unusual age-related degradation, simply confirms that this is a car that has worked hard throughout its life. For a prospective buyer, the suspension and steering items flagged warrant direct physical inspection rather than reliance on the current advisory state. The track rod end ball joint noted in February 2025 should be checked by rocking the front wheel at the three and nine o'clock positions to feel for any slack; the same exercise should be repeated with the vehicle on a ramp, checking both lower arm ball joints and the trailing arm bushes that were previously flagged for movement. With two fractured coil springs being a known failure mode on this model at high mileage, push down firmly on each rear corner and listen for any clunk or creak on the rebound, paying particular attention to the offside rear where the fracture occurred in 2022. On the test drive, any knocking over uneven surfaces, vague or wandering steering, or a noticeable pull to one side would warrant further investigation of these front-end components. The exhaust system deserves close attention given three advisories for flexi deterioration in five years. Inspect the front flexible section with the engine running from underneath for any visible soot staining or audible ticking, and check the rear box for the outer skin corrosion previously noted. The persistent road wheel distortion across multiple tests suggests either kerbing damage or wheel quality issues; on the test drive, expect to feel a slight vibration through the steering wheel or a discernible judder under braking, particularly from the front wheels. Finally, verify that all stop lamps, position lamps, and wiper functions are operating correctly, as these simple electrical items accounted for the major failure defects in 2021 and 2022, and a thorough walk-around with the lights on should form part of any pre-purchase check.