2006 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · NC06 ABN

A twenty-year-old Ford Fiesta carrying roughly 94,993 miles over its lifetime, this car presents an unusually sparse DVSA record, with only five MOT entries logged and two of those being failures despite no advisory or defect notes being recorded. Both failures were registered on the same dates as pass certificates, suggesting the vehicle was presented, failed on a particular item, immediately retested after repair, and then passed within the same day. The most recent test on 11 November 2024 fell into this exact pattern, with a pass and a failure recorded on the same date, while earlier tests in October 2023 and October/November 2022 show a clean pass followed by a same-day failure in 2022. The complete absence of advisories across all five entries is unusual for a car of this age and mileage; typically one would expect recorded wear on brake components, suspension bushes, exhaust sections, or corrosion. The lack of advisory data means no chronic component issues are documented, but equally it offers no visibility into the gradual deterioration that twenty-year-old suspension and braking hardware typically exhibits. The annual mileage rate of approximately 4,750 miles per year is notably low for a vehicle of this vintage, and the testing record hints at extended periods off the road or infrequent use, as gaps between MOT certificates span well over a year in places. Such light usage tends to produce a different wear profile than high-mileage accumulation; rubber components such as suspension bushes, anti-roll bar linkages, drive shaft gaiters, and brake caliper seals can harden and perish through lack of regular movement rather than wearing out through use. Brake discs are particularly susceptible to corrosion pitting when a car is used only intermittently in damp conditions, and cooling system hoses, crankcase seals, and the ageing 1.25 or 1.4 litre Zetec engine gaskets can all develop oil misting or small leaks after long static periods. The current 94,993 mile figure sits just under the symbolic hundred-thousand mark, which means the engine, clutch, and gearbox assemblies have had relatively modest working life, though age-related degradation of ancillaries such as the timing belt area, alternator, and starter motor remains a separate consideration. From a buyer inspection standpoint, the absence of recorded advisories means a prospective purchaser cannot rely on the MOT history to identify pre-existing concerns, making a hands-on mechanical examination particularly important. A test drive should pay close attention to suspension behaviour over uneven surfaces; listen for clonking or knocking from the front struts, top mounts, and wishbone bushes, all of which are known Fiesta wear points at this age. Steering should be checked for wandering, vagueness through the centre, or any knocking on full lock, which can indicate perished rack mounts or worn drop links. Braking response needs careful appraisal, including pedal feel, any judder under heavy application suggesting corroded or warped front discs, and whether the car pulls to one side indicating a binding or sticking caliper. Under the bonnet, look for signs of oil seepage from the cam cover gasket and oil filter housing, condition of the coolant hoses for any cracking or bulging, and check that the exhaust system is secure and free from blowing joints given the typical age-related corrosion of underbody components. Finally, the bodywork and structural areas deserve close scrutiny on a twenty-year-old Fiesta, particularly the rear wheel arches, sills, and the subframe mounting points where road salt commonly takes hold. Lift the boot carpet and inspect the spare wheel well for any damp or rust bubbling from beneath, and run a hand along the inner wheel arches to feel for hidden corrosion behind the plastic liners. Verify that all warning lights extinguish promptly after start-up, that the cooling fan cuts in at the correct temperature, and that there are no signs of excessive smoke from the exhaust on a cold start, which can indicate valve stem seal wear. Given that this Fiesta has had long static periods between tests, confirm that the tyres are not older than their appearance suggests, as old rubber can crack regardless of tread depth, and ensure the brake fluid has been refreshed recently rather than retaining moisture absorbed over years of low use. A pre-purchase inspection by a technician familiar with ageing small Fords would be a prudent measure given the limited MOT data available.