2012 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · OL07 ARM

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 22 December 2025, but the history indicates a worsening maintenance trend. Of particular concern is the failure recorded just ten days prior to the pass, which was due to major structural corrosion on the rear suspension mounting areas and outer sills. While these defects were rectified to achieve a pass, the presence of significant rust in prescribed structural areas suggests a vehicle susceptible to degradation, which often indicates a lack of preventative underbody protection or prolonged exposure to corrosive environments. With a recorded mileage of 128,069 miles over approximately 14 years, the vehicle has averaged roughly 9,148 miles per year. This is considered typical usage for a car of this age and class. However, at this mileage threshold, the drivetrain and chassis components are entering a phase of increased wear. Prospective buyers should be aware that consumables and wear-and-tear items, such as suspension bushings, engine mounts, and clutch components, may be nearing the end of their natural service life and may require imminent replacement. The MOT history reveals a recurring pattern of wear in the steering and suspension systems, specifically regarding track rod ends, steering linkage ball joints, and lower suspension arm joints. During a test drive, the buyer should listen for clunking or knocking sounds when traversing uneven surfaces and feel for any vagueness or instability in the steering wheel. The current advisories regarding the rear axle swivel pins and bushes suggest that the rear end is experiencing wear, which can manifest as a wandering sensation or uneven tyre wear across the rear axle. Further attention must be paid to the tyres and the structural integrity of the chassis. The latest advisory notes a perishing offside rear tyre, which requires immediate replacement to avoid sidewall failure. Given the previous major failure for structural corrosion on the sills, a thorough physical inspection of the underbody is essential to ensure the repairs were carried out to a professional standard and that no further oxidation is spreading. Finally, the buyer should verify the service history to ensure that calendar-based maintenance, such as coolant and brake fluid flushes, has been performed to prevent internal system corrosion.