2013 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · MK63 FPN

A thirteen year old Ford Fiesta with this recorded history tells a story of intermittent front suspension distress rather than systemic deterioration. Between 2020 and 2022 the vehicle passed three consecutive tests without any recorded defects, but in 2021 it failed with a fractured offside front coil spring and was re-presented the same day as a pass. A year later, on 7 September 2022, it failed again with a dangerous nearside front anti-roll bar linkage described as insecure and impairing directional stability, yet it passed later the same day after rectification. Since that September 2022 retest the car has recorded four clean passes in 2023, 2024 and 2025 with no advisories or defects at all. The pattern therefore points to two isolated front suspension incidents that were repaired at source, followed by a two year stretch of unblemished roadworthiness, with the most recent pass on 18 September 2025 confirming a stable trajectory rather than a worsening one. The recorded mileage of 9,192 miles across thirteen years works out at an annual average of roughly 707 miles, which is exceptionally low even for a Fiesta. Such a low accumulation rate typically means the vehicle has either been used for very short local trips only or has spent considerable periods laid up between tests. The MOT records show tests being taken at almost exactly twelve month intervals from 2020 onwards, suggesting the car has been kept on the road continuously and presented for testing regularly, but each year has added only modest mileage to the odometer. Where usage is dominated by short journeys, components such as the brake discs and calipers can suffer corrosion from lack of sustained heat cycling, while undertray and subframe components can collect standing water and surface rust. Conversely, the engine, clutch and gearbox internals may be in relatively lightly worked condition given the limited distance covered. Given that the two recorded failures both concerned front suspension hardware, any prospective buyer should concentrate their physical inspection on that area. With the engine running and the car on level ground, listen for clonks or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven tarmac, as anti-roll bar drop links and their bushes commonly betray wear through audible impact noise rather than visible movement. Push and pull each front wheel at nine and three o’clock to feel for play in the linkage joints and track rod ends, and at twelve and six for wear in the lower suspension arms and ball joints. The fractured coil spring recorded in 2021 is worth noting specifically, because broken spring coils can occasionally allow the fractured section to rub against the strut body; listen for a metallic scraping or ticking from the front wheel arch on full lock, and inspect the spring seats for any signs of uneven ride height from corner to corner which could indicate a second fatigue point developing. The absence of any further suspension-related advisories across the 2023, 2024 and 2025 passes is reassuring, but the components replaced in 2021 and 2022 are the ones most likely to be ageing sympathetically with the rest of the front geometry, so a careful road test on poor surfaces is essential. Beyond the suspension focus, the low mileage and likely short-journey use pattern warrant attention to the braking system in particular. On a road test, expect the brake pedal to pull up firmly without excessive travel, and listen for any grinding or scraping from the front calipers as the car rolls slowly, as seized slider pins can produce a distinctive squeal and uneven pad wear. Check visually that the wheels rotate freely without the judder or vibration that warped or corroded front discs would produce under heavier braking. Given the limited annual mileage, the original brake fluid has probably been changed very few times, so a fluid date stamp or service record confirmation would be sensible to verify. Finally, ensure that all the items replaced at the two failed tests are documented and that the fittings used were of equivalent or superior specification, as the insecure anti-roll bar linkage in particular was recorded as dangerous rather than merely major, meaning that a repeat failure of the same component would be a serious safety concern and a basis for renegotiation or walking away.