2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · OU10 KPL

A pattern of chronic advisories affecting the steering, rear tyres, and brake components has characterised this Fiesta's MOT history over the past six recorded tests, indicating age-related wear across multiple safety-critical systems rather than a single isolated issue. The most recent test on 12 January 2026 passed, but it carried forward three advisories: a minor exhaust leak at the rear back box, front brake disc wear with pitting and scoring, and fraying on the nearside rear seat belt webbing. Looking back through 2025, the brake disc advisory and the seat belt webbing issue had already been flagged, alongside a noisy offside front wheel bearing and perishing rear tyres. Two failures appear in the record: one on 9 January 2024 for a fractured offside front coil spring, and another on 17 December 2021 for an anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover that no longer prevented dirt ingress. Both failures also carried multiple advisories, confirming that the steering and suspension areas have been the weakest points of the roadworthiness record. The recorded mileage of 85,573 miles against a 16-year vehicle age equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 5,348 miles, which is low for the class and suggests periods where it has covered limited mileage or potentially stood unused. The MOT record contains no obvious long multi-year lay-up, with tests appearing in 2020, 2021 (twice), 2022, 2024 (twice), 2025, and 2026, indicating reasonably continuous use despite the modest annual mileage. Low mileage of this nature reduces wear on the engine and drivetrain internals, but it tends to accelerate ageing of rubber and polymer components such as tyres, bushes, gaiters, and brake hoses, which is consistent with the recurring tyre perishing advisories and the fractured coil spring recorded in 2024. Buyers should expect that consumables and rubber-mounted items will likely continue to demand attention regardless of the relatively low odometer reading. From a buyer inspection perspective, the steering system requires particular scrutiny given that advisories for play in the steering column joint appeared in 2021 and 2022, with a slightly rough play and knock recorded again in 2024. On a test drive, listen for any clicking or knocking through the steering wheel when turning, particularly over uneven road surfaces, and feel for slack or inconsistent self-centring. The 2024 failure for a fractured offside front coil spring should prompt a physical check for uneven ride height at the front and any clonking over speed humps, while the worn and pitted front brake discs flagged in both 2025 and 2026 warrant checking for brake judder under firm pedal pressure and visually inspecting the disc surfaces for a lip or grooving. The anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover failure from 2021 also merits a check for any knocking from the front suspension over bumps. The rear tyres should be inspected carefully given that perishing in the tread has been an advisory at every test since 2021, with the offside rear noted as heavily cracked in 2024. Cracking of this nature in a 195/50/15 size suggests age-hardened rubber, and replacement of both rear tyres should be budgeted for immediately following acquisition. The offside front wheel bearing noise flagged in 2025 should be evaluated at speed by listening for a hum that changes with cornering load, as this typically worsens over time. Exhaust leaks from the rear back box, as noted in 2026, should be checked by listening for a ticking or hissing on cold start and inspecting the joint for black soot deposits. Finally, the frayed nearside rear seat belt webbing noted in 2025 and again in 2026 must be addressed for safety, and the nearside front inner road wheel distortion from 2024 should be inspected visually for any buckling that could cause vibration through the steering.