2014 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · MW64 CFM

A pattern of rear suspension corrosion sits at the centre of this Fiesta's MOT history, marking the only structural concern to have surfaced across seven recorded tests. The earliest advisory appeared in November 2020, noting corrosion on the offside rear upper coil spring mounting, a region that carries significant load and is routinely exposed to road grit and moisture. By November 2021 the offside mounting had deteriorated to the point of a major failure, while the nearside equivalent was simultaneously flagged as corroded but not seriously weakened. Since that single failure, the vehicle has passed four consecutive annual tests with no recorded defects, with the most recent pass on 4 August 2026. The record therefore suggests the affected mounting was replaced or repaired at the time of failure, though the absence of any further advisories on the rear spring locations cannot itself confirm the long-term integrity of that repair or the condition of the surrounding floorpan and axle assemblies. Annual mileage is unusually low for a twelve-year-old vehicle, with 71,423 recorded miles accumulating at roughly 5,950 miles per year. The testing pattern between 2020 and 2026 is consistent, with annual tests clustering in the late summer or early winter period and no significant gaps in road presence. Light usage of this nature tends to reduce wear on high-mileage consumables such as clutch, brake friction material and drivetrain internals, but it can also accelerate rubber component degradation through prolonged standing, and the rear tyre cracking advisories from November 2022 align with that tendency. The combination of low annual mileage and the localised suspension corrosion noted in 2020 and 2021 is consistent with a vehicle used predominantly for short urban journeys where damp conditions and infrequent extended running allow surface corrosion to establish itself on unprotected steel components. For a prospective buyer, the rear suspension architecture deserves the most focused physical inspection. The upper coil spring mounting areas, the spring seats themselves and the surrounding bodywork should be examined for fresh corrosion, evidence of recent welding or repair, and any signs of cracking in the metal around the mounting points. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking from the rear over uneven surfaces, as a compromised mounting can allow the spring to shift under load, and pay attention to whether the vehicle settles unevenly at the rear when stationary. A bouncing or unsettled ride after larger undulations may also indicate weakened spring retention. It is worth pushing firmly down on each rear corner with the vehicle unoccupied to confirm the suspension damps evenly and returns to its rest position without continued oscillation. Given the November 2022 advisories on both rear tyres for cracking and perishing, all four tyres should be inspected for sidewall dry rot, cracking between the tread blocks and any bulges, particularly if the car has been standing for extended periods. A further check of the nearside and offside front tyres for uneven shoulder wear, as previously flagged in 2020, is sensible, and uneven wear patterns on the front pair can point to suspension geometry issues or worn components such as track rod ends or wishbone bushes, which are not visible on an MOT but can manifest as steering pull or vibration under braking. Finally, a thorough underbody inspection or ramp examination is advisable to confirm the rear coil spring mountings remain solid and to verify the absence of any developing corrosion elsewhere on the subframe or fuel and brake pipe runs, areas that are not always captured within the MOT visual check.