2008 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · PL57 EUX

A recurring thread of steering, brake and structural advisories defines the mechanical profile of this 2008 Ford Fiesta, with the steering rack free play now noted across four consecutive annual tests spanning 2022 to 2025, signalling progressive wear in the rack assembly or its mounting bushes rather than a one-off observation. The most recent examination on 4 December 2025 returned a Pass, but only alongside advisories for pitted front brake discs and thinning front brake pads, indicating that the friction components are approaching the point at which they will fail the test outright on the next inspection. The earlier 12 December 2022 visit is particularly significant, as it logged two Dangerous tyre defects for structural tears on the nearside front and offside rear, compounded by an advisory for a binding nearside front brake, while the 2023 and 2024 tests subsequently flagged corroding fuel pipes and corroding suspension mounting areas on the inner wing and strut tower. Taken together, the trend is one of accumulating wear rather than improvement, with corrosion, steering deterioration and front brake consumption all trending in the wrong direction. With 103,374 miles accumulated over roughly eighteen years, this Fiesta averages around 5,700 miles annually, which is well below the typical figure for a vehicle of this vintage and suggests either prolonged periods of low use or extended standing. While light annual mileage reduces wear on internal combustion components such as the engine, clutch and gearbox internals, it tends to accelerate external deterioration, particularly corrosion to underbody structure, fuel lines, brake pipes and suspension mounting points, which is consistent with the advisories recorded here on the fuel pipes and the offside front strut tower area. The MOT record shows continuous annual testing since at least December 2022 with no extended gaps, so the corrosion cannot be attributed to a long lay-up, but the combination of an ageing chassis, eighteen years of road exposure and modest use still places this vehicle firmly in the corrosion risk category that is evident from the advisory pattern. For a prospective buyer, the steering rack free play deserves close attention on a test drive, as the assessor has now flagged it across four successive visits, and any worsening of slack between the steering wheel and the front wheels, clonking over uneven surfaces, or vagueness around the straight-ahead position would indicate that replacement is imminent. The front brake package requires immediate scrutiny, since the 2025 test identified both pitted nearside and offside discs alongside thin nearside pads, and a test drive should include several firm stops from around 30 mph to detect any judder through the pedal, vibration through the steering wheel, or pulling to one side, all of which would confirm that the discs have deteriorated beyond the advisory threshold. The nearside front brake was also flagged as binding in 2022, so it is worth checking for a hot wheel after driving, uneven pad wear, or a dragging sensation, which together would point to a sticking caliper or slider mechanism. The corrosion advisories warrant a physical inspection beneath the vehicle, particularly around the offside front inner wing and strut tower where surface corrosion has already been recorded, and a torch should be used to check the condition of the fuel pipes and any visible brake lines for blistering under the paint, flaking, or live rust that could perforate in the near future. A Fiat or Ford-specific point worth listening for is any rumbling or droning from the offside rear on the move, since the 2023 test recorded slight rear wheel bearing noise and bearings tend to deteriorate progressively. Finally, ensure all four tyres are current production and check the sidewalls carefully for bulges or cuts, given that this vehicle has previously failed with Dangerous structural tyre separations on both the front and rear axles.