2010 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · OV59 RPU

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 17 February 2025, though this followed a failed attempt just three days earlier on 14 February 2025. The pre-test failure cited several major defects including a supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicating an airbag fault, insufficient windscreen washer fluid, and a front brake disc significantly and obviously worn. The most recent pass included an advisory for rear parking brake efficiency being only just met, suggesting adjustment or repair is needed. Reviewing the broader trend across the recorded MOT history, the maintenance picture is clearly one of decline rather than stability. Multiple failures have occurred since 2022, with recurring issues around braking components, suspension wear, exhaust integrity, and more recently the airbag system. The fact that major defects have appeared in successive tests across emissions, suspension bushes, brake discs, and steering components points to an ageing vehicle that has not had its underlying wear items comprehensively addressed. The recorded mileage of 145,404 miles against a vehicle of approximately 16 years of age equates to around 9,088 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of this vintage. There are no significant gaps in the MOT record to suggest prolonged periods of standing, and the steady MOT frequency suggests the vehicle has been in regular use. For a Fiesta of this age and mileage, this level of annual usage is consistent with mixed urban and shorter journey operation, which tends to be harder on brakes, tyres, and the cooling system than steady motorway mileage. The cumulative wear on consumables and suspension components should therefore be expected to be advanced, and prospective buyers should treat the recorded figure as fully representative of a high-mileage example rather than a low-use vehicle. Several recurring and significant defects warrant close attention before purchase. The brake disc wear flagged as major in February 2025 is likely to require replacement rather than just machining, and any test drive should include firm pedal applications from speed to check for brake shudder, vibration through the steering wheel, or pulling to one side, all of which would indicate warped or unevenly worn discs. The 2023 advisories for front inner brake discs being pitted or scored, combined with the 2022 advisories for a nearside front track rod end ball joint with slight play, suggest progressive deterioration of the steering and braking systems; any clonking over bumps, vague steering, or uneven tyre wear particularly on the inner or outer edges would indicate these joints now need replacement. The parking brake efficiency advisory raised in 2025 is also significant, as rear brake adjustment, cable stretch, or binding calipers commonly cause this on high-mileage Fiestas and should be inspected with the vehicle on a lift to check for seized rear mechanisms. Additionally, the 2023 major failure for excessively worn rear axle swivel pins and bushes on both sides indicates rear suspension refresh work has been needed, and buyers should listen for rear knocking over uneven surfaces and inspect for uneven rear tyre wear. Beyond the recorded defects, a vehicle of this age and mileage requires thorough age-related inspection regardless of MOT status. Tyres should be examined closely for sidewall cracking and perishing, as rubber degrades with calendar age even where tread depth remains legal, and a 2010 Fiesta may well still be running ageing tyres if replacements have been infrequent. The 12 volt battery should be load tested, as units beyond five years of age commonly struggle in cold weather. Brake calipers and rear drums should be checked for corrosion and binding, particularly given the parking brake advisory history, and all fluid services including coolant, brake fluid, and transmission oil should be verified against the manufacturer's schedule rather than purely by mileage, as time-based degradation is just as relevant on a 16 year old car. The supplementary restraint system warning lamp fault recorded in February 2025 also demands clarification, as unresolved airbag faults represent both a safety concern and a likely cause for any future MOT failure, and a diagnostic scan should be requested to confirm the underlying fault has been properly rectified. Finally, the exhaust blow noted in 2022 should be rechecked, as corroded rear sections on a Fiesta of this age frequently worsen and may soon require replacement.