2009 Ford Fusion 1.4L Petrol · PJ09 PVT

A recurring theme of corrosion on exposed underbody components, oil leaks, and worn brake hardware dominates this Ford Fusion's MOT history, with the vehicle accumulating nineteen separate advisory notices across five recorded test cycles alongside three failures. The most recent test on 12 March 2026 illustrates the pattern precisely: the car initially failed on a split front drive shaft CV boot and a parking brake efficiency below requirements, then passed later the same day once the boot was presumably addressed, but still carried forward advisories for corroded rear coil springs both sides and a parking brake that only just met the statutory minimum. Across the previous cycles, rear brake pipes and front brake pipes have been flagged as corroded on multiple occasions, both front brake discs have been repeatedly recorded as worn, pitted or scored, and gearbox or transmission oil leaks have been noted at four consecutive annual tests. Lighting defects have also appeared with some frequency, including non-functioning high-level stop lamps flagged in 2023 and 2025, a non-working rear direction indicator, a missing rear reflector, and reduced rear fog lamp intensity recorded in 2024. This is not a record that demonstrates strong roadworthiness; rather, it shows a vehicle that has passed each annual test but only after items have repeatedly fallen into the advisory bracket and, on three occasions, crossed into outright failure. The recorded mileage of 77,661 miles across approximately seventeen years equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 4,500 miles, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age. There are no extended gaps in the testing history that would suggest prolonged lay-up periods, with tests recorded at broadly annual intervals between 2022 and 2026, so the low average reflects consistent light usage rather than long periods off the road. Mechanically, this usage profile means the engine, transmission and drivetrain components have accumulated relatively modest wear for the vehicle's age, but it also raises the usual concerns associated with low-mileage cars that have remained in regular service: rubber components such as the CV boot that split on the front drive shaft in 2026 can deteriorate through age as much as mileage, and the consistent appearance of brake pipe corrosion advisories suggests the underbody is being exposed to the typical wet-road conditions of the UK climate rather than high-stress frequent driving. The pattern of brake disc pitting recorded on both front discs across multiple tests is consistent with light, low-speed urban use where the brakes are applied frequently without the higher temperatures generated by sustained braking to burn off surface contamination. For a prospective buyer, the underbody and braking system should be the focus of any physical inspection, given the cluster of advisories relating to corroded brake pipes on both front and rear circuits, scored front discs, and rear coil spring corrosion noted at the most recent test. On a test drive, listen for knocks or clonks from the rear suspension when traversing speed humps or uneven surfaces, as corroded coil springs can fracture; visually inspect the springs for surface pitting or flaking and check the rear ride height for any sagging that would suggest a broken lower coil. The front brake discs should be examined for a pronounced lip at the outer edge and any pulsing or judder through the brake pedal under firm application, which would indicate the disc run-out associated with the pitting previously recorded. The parking brake should be tested on an incline with the vehicle facing uphill and the lever or electronic switch applied with the transmission in neutral; if the mechanism requires excessive travel or fails to hold the car reliably, the just-met efficiency noted in March 2026 suggests further adjustment or rear brake shoe replacement may be imminent. The persistent gearbox oil leak flagged at four consecutive tests warrants a physical inspection beneath the vehicle, ideally on a dry day when fresh drips can be identified on the undertray or ground beneath the transmission bellhousing area; any smell of hot oil or visible misting around the transmission seam should be expected. The front CV boot failure recorded in March 2026 should also be verified as fully repaired by inspecting both inner and outer boots on each drive shaft for splits, perished rubber or fresh grease deposits around the joint, and listening during tight low-speed cornering for any clicking or knocking that would indicate the joint itself has been contaminated. With a high-level brake lamp advisory having appeared in both 2023 and 2025, verify that the central third brake light illuminates correctly, as the repeat nature of this fault suggests it has not been permanently rectified. Finally, a thorough road test on a mix of urban and dual-carriageway roads should be performed to confirm there is no steering pull, vibration through the wheel, or excessive road noise that could indicate worn suspension linkages or wheel bearing deterioration associated with the underbody corrosion trend evident throughout the record.