2002 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · ML52 HNB

Most recent MOT (22 April 2026 – PASS) The car passed its latest test at 89 027 mi, but the report flags a deteriorated front registration plate, a corroded off‑side rear brake pipe, a badly worn off‑side rear tyre, a severely deteriorated off‑side front lower suspension arm ball‑joint dust cover and a modest front‑lower oil leak. None of these items caused a failure, but they are all advisory items that will need attention before the next test. Recurring pattern Across the last four years the same three areas keep re‑appearing: 1. Suspension arm dust‑cover wear – The off‑side front lower arm dust cover is listed as “severely deteriorated” in every MOT from 2023 to 2026. This suggests the protective cover is failing, exposing the ball joint to dirt and moisture, which can accelerate wear of the joint itself. Tyre wear on the edge – Both rear tyres have repeatedly been noted as “worn close to the legal limit / worn on edge” in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The car is consistently running on tyres that are near the end of their service life, increasing the risk of a blow‑out, especially on wet or uneven surfaces. Minor fluid leaks – Small oil leaks (front‑lower oil leak, front‑lower fluid leak, power‑steering pump seepage) appear each year. While described as “not excessive”, they indicate seals are beginning to give and could develop into larger leaks. Additional items that have surfaced more recently are the corroded rear brake pipe (2026) and the inoperative off‑side rear registration‑plate lamp (2025).