2009 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · LR09 XCM

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 29 May 2026, though four advisories were recorded, including front and rear nearside tyres worn close to the legal limit and on edge, corrosion to the rear sub-frame deemed not seriously weakened, and a deteriorated rear registration plate not yet likely to be misread. Looking back across the documented test history, the maintenance trend shows some cause for attention rather than outright concern. The 2024 and 2025 tests produced major defects, most notably an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint which appeared as a major failure in May 2025, and a dangerous offside rear anti-roll bar linkage issue in 2023 which was subsequently addressed. These items have not reappeared in the 2026 pass, suggesting remedial work was carried out, but the recurrence of steering rack inner joint play flagged in 2023 and the ongoing pattern of inner-edge front tyre wear warrant continued scrutiny to confirm nothing structural has been left unresolved. With 115,363 miles recorded over a 17-year life, the vehicle averages around 6,786 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and not indicative of either excessive use or prolonged standing. There are no notable gaps in the annual MOT sequence from 2022 onwards, and the mileage progression between tests appears consistent rather than sporadic, meaning wear patterns are likely to reflect genuine regular use rather than the irregular stresses associated with very low or stop-start ownership. This regular annual mileage supports a reasonable expectation that mechanical components such as the timing chain, clutch, and engine internals have accumulated wear proportionally, which is appropriate to verify against stamps in the service history. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the recurring theme of front tyre inner-edge wear, which has appeared in 2023, 2024, and 2026. This pattern frequently points to suspension geometry issues, most commonly worn front suspension arm bushes, top mounts, or a weakened coil spring allowing the wheel to sit at an incorrect angle. A test drive over uneven surfaces should be carried out listening for clonking or knocking from the front end, and any vagueness or wandering in the steering should be noted as it could relate to the play previously recorded in the steering rack inner joints. The ball joint replacement evidenced by the 2025 failure should be confirmed as having been completed with a quality pattern or original part, and the condition of the adjacent arm, bush, and anti-roll bar drop links on both sides is worth a physical inspection on a ramp given the earlier dangerous anti-roll bar defect. Tyres should be checked for even wear across the full tread width and for signs of perishing in the sidewalls given the vehicle age, even where tread depth remains adequate. Beyond the documented advisories, several age- and mileage-related items merit a physical check prior to purchase. The rear sub-frame corrosion noted in 2026 should be inspected closely to ensure it has not progressed, paying attention to mounting points and the surrounding floor pan. Brake discs and calipers on a 17-year-old vehicle are prone to corrosion and binding after periods of standing, so cold-start pull-away tests for uneven braking and any tendency for the car to pull to one side are worthwhile, along with a check for lipping on the front disc edges. The 12V battery health is highly likely to be marginal at this age and should be load-tested, while time-based servicing such as engine coolant, brake fluid, and automatic or manual transmission fluid replacement should be verified against the service book, as these degrade on a calendar basis regardless of mileage. A thorough road test covering braking from higher speeds, motorway stability, and transmission behaviour under load will help confirm whether the wear indicated by the MOT history reflects the vehicle's true current mechanical condition.