2009 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · LR59 HTD

A seventeen-year-old Ford Fiesta carrying 80,445 miles presents a roadworthiness record defined by a notably clean DVSA history, with no advisories recorded across any of the listed test events. A passing pass on 5 November 2025 caps off a sequence that includes passes in 2022, 2023, and 2024, the only blemish being a fail on 2 October 2024 with no defects recorded against the test, suggesting either an administrative refusal or a rectification that was completed and re-presented just over a month later. For a vehicle of this age and platform, an MOT history entirely free of corrosion advisories, suspension component notes, or brake wear flags is unusual and points to either genuine mechanical integrity or test history that simply does not capture every interim concern. The absence of recorded advisories should nevertheless be treated as a baseline indicator of test-pass compliance rather than a comprehensive health certificate, particularly given the Fiesta's known susceptibility to rear axle corrosion and ageing front suspension components as the platform matures. With 80,445 miles accumulated over approximately seventeen years, this Fiesta averages around 4,700 miles annually, which sits well below the typical 7,000 to 9,000 miles expected of a UK supermini in regular commuter or family use. This restrained usage figure can stem from a genuine second-car role, periods of seasonal storage, or extended lay-ups between owners. Mechanically, low annual mileage of this nature reduces wear on high-cycle items such as clutches, brake friction material, and engine internals, but it does increase the likelihood of dried and perished rubber components, dried grease in suspension and driveshaft joints, and surface oxidation on ferrous underbody parts that benefit from regular washing and road exposure. Any prospective test drive should therefore pay particular attention to noises that may have developed from prolonged inactivity rather than from high-mileage wear. On a physical inspection, the priorities for this particular Fiesta should be the areas where the model commonly develops defects even when MOT records are silent. The front suspension, particularly the lower wishbone bushes, front coil springs, and anti-roll bar drop links, should be examined for cracking, perishing, or any knocking sensation transmitted through the cabin over speed humps and uneven surfaces. Steering should remain tight and free of clonks or vagueness through full lock, and the front brake discs and calipers should be checked for binding, uneven pad wear, and any lip formation on the disc edges, as caliper slide pins on ageing Fiestas are prone to seizing and pulling the car under braking. The rear axle and its mounting area should be inspected for any bubbling or perforation rust, as the rear beam and suspension links are known corrosion weak points on this generation, even where testers have not formally flagged them. From a powertrain perspective, the 1.25 or 1.4 Duratec petrol engine fitted to most 2009-specification Fiestas should be checked for any signs of oil misting around the cam cover and rocker cover gaskets, which harden with age. Cold starting behaviour, idle stability, and the presence of any warning lights on the instrument cluster should be verified, along with the condition of the exhaust system downstream of the catalytic converter, as rear silencers and intermediate sections frequently corrode through on vehicles of this vintage. A thorough road test should include firm braking from around 40 mph to check for pedal judder or pulling, slow-speed cornering to detect any clonks from the front suspension, and a check for excessive vibration through the steering wheel, which on low-mileage Fiestas can indicate ageing engine mounts rather than wheel balance issues. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp remains strongly advisable given the absence of recorded advisories across the MOT file.