1997 Ford Probe 2.0L Petrol · R427 BGU

A 29-year-old Ford Probe with this level of age presents a recurring theme of corrosion-driven advisories across the braking and suspension systems, and the recent record shows a brake-related failure rather than a clean pass. On 2 September 2025 the vehicle passed, but only seven days earlier it failed on a leaking nearside rear brake caliper, while the same test recorded play in the nearside front track rod end ball joint and a nearside front tyre worn to its legal limit on the edge. The wider history reinforces a pattern: the 2024 test produced a failure for a major central exhaust gas leak combined with an out-of-specification lambda reading after the second fast idle, and the 2023 test also resulted in a failure, albeit with the same corrosion advisories appearing on both the fail and re-test entries. Across 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 the advisories for nearside and offside rear brake hose ferrules, nearside and offside rear brake pipe corrosion, nearside and offside front Macpherson strut corrosion, offside rear coil spring corrosion, and general rear age-related suspension surface corrosion have been repeated almost every year, indicating progressive structural wear rather than isolated incidents. The exhaust system itself has moved from a minor leak advisory in 2024 to a major leak failure within the same testing cycle, suggesting the deterioration is accelerating. Against an age of roughly 29 years, the recorded 141,876 miles equates to an average of approximately 4,890 miles per year, which is low and consistent with a vehicle that has either covered modest annual distances or spent extended periods standing. The MOT testing history is broadly annual from 2021 onwards with no obvious multi-year gaps, so the mileage accumulation appears genuine rather than reflecting a long lay-up. Mechanically, low annual mileage on a car of this age does not necessarily equate to preserved condition; standing periods encourage surface corrosion on ferrous components such as brake pipes, calipers, suspension arms, coil springs and strut housings, all of which are exactly the items appearing repeatedly in this record. The oil being added prior to test in both 2021 and 2024 is also a small but relevant indicator of consumption that warrants verification rather than dismissal, particularly on an engine of this vintage. For a prospective buyer, the brake and suspension components flagged in the advisories should form the focus of any physical inspection and test drive. With the nearside rear caliper recorded as leaking in August 2025, confirm there is no residual binding or uneven pad wear, and feel for the rear pulling or the pedal travelling further than expected under firm braking. The corroded rear brake pipes and hose ferrules should be examined closely for active seepage or flaking scale, as items previously noted only as corroded under grease can deteriorate to a fail-worthy state between tests, and any spongy pedal feel or visible weeping at the rear should be treated seriously. The track rod end play noted on the nearside front should be checked by rocking the wheel at nine and three o'clock for clonking or excessive movement, and the worn edge on the nearside front tyre suggests a geometry or camber issue that a four-wheel alignment and tyre replacement would need to address. On the suspension side, the Macpherson strut and coil spring corrosion advisories warrant a thorough underbody inspection for any loss of structural section, particularly around strut tops and spring seats, and the test drive should include varied road surfaces to listen for knocks, rattles or clonks over bumps and expansion joints that would indicate advanced bush or spring deterioration. The exhaust and emissions defects from the 2024 failure also deserve direct attention even though the vehicle subsequently passed. A major exhaust leak combined with a lambda reading outside specified limits points to either a deteriorated joint, a failing sensor or an engine management issue that may not have been fully resolved, and the central exhaust should be checked for black soot deposits, hissing under cold start and any reappearance of a strong exhaust smell inside the cabin. The severely deteriorated offside inner CV boot noted in 2024 should be confirmed as replaced or at least re-packed, as a torn boot will lead to joint failure if ignored, and any clicking on full-lock turns during the test drive would confirm the issue has progressed. Finally, the low recorded mileage combined with repeated corrosion advisories means a thorough inspection on a ramp or over a pit is strongly advisable before purchase, as the surface corrosion visible to an MOT tester is very likely to be more advanced on components not directly examined during the test.