2016 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Petrol · MH65 ENR

Suspension wear is the defining theme of this 2016 Ford Fiesta's test history, with three separate failures across two consecutive years all centred on the running gear. In November 2024 the car failed on excessively worn swivel pins and bushes on both rear axles, and twelve months later in November 2025 it failed again, this time for an excessively worn offside front suspension arm ball joint. Both failures were rectified promptly, with the car passing on retest the same day in 2024 and the following day in 2025, and the most recent pass on 18 November 2025 was recorded with no defects at all. Earlier in the record, May 2024 brought an advisory for corrosion on both rear coil springs, which is worth noting given that corroded springs can fracture rather than merely deteriorate gradually. Before this cluster of issues, the car had a clean run of passes from February 2022 through May 2023, so the overall trend shows age-related suspension wear emerging in the last two years rather than any long-standing neglect. The recorded mileage of 79,419 over roughly ten years equates to about 7,900 miles per year, which is entirely typical for a car of this age and suggests steady, ordinary use rather than prolonged standing or unusually heavy accumulation. There are no significant gaps in the test record, with annual or near-annual tests throughout, so there is no evidence of extended off-road periods that might have caused seized components or perished rubber. This usage pattern is consistent with the failures recorded: suspension bushes, ball joints, and swivel pins are wear items that typically begin to show play at this age and mileage regardless of how the car is driven, and the corrosion on the rear coil springs is a common consequence of a decade of exposure to road salt and moisture. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection is the condition of the repairs already carried out and the components adjacent to them. The front ball joint and rear swivel pin work should be verified, ideally with evidence of the parts fitted, and the opposite front ball joint should be checked for play since wear on one side often mirrors the other. On a test drive, listen for knocking or clonking from the front over uneven surfaces, which would indicate remaining play in the suspension arms or drop links, and pay attention to any vagueness or wandering in the steering. From the rear, creaking or knocking over bumps could point to further bush deterioration. The corroded rear coil springs deserve particular attention: ask whether they were replaced after the 2024 advisory, and if not, inspect them directly for heavy flaking rust, especially near the lower seats where fractures most often occur. A snapped spring typically announces itself with a loud bang followed by the car sitting low on one corner and knocking over bumps, so any uneven ride height should be investigated. Given that the November 2025 pass was clean, the immediate roadworthiness picture is reasonable, but the pattern of the last two years suggests the buyer should budget for ongoing suspension maintenance as the car moves beyond 80,000 miles.