2011 Ford KA 1.2L Petrol · RJ61 ULC

A pattern of steering and front suspension wear has quietly built across this Ford Ka's recent MOT history, with the nearside front steering rack inner joint and nearside front suspension arm bush both noted as worn in successive tests from 2022 and 2023. These advisories are minor in DVSA terms but they are the kind of items that, on a small, light car now covering significant mileage, progress steadily rather than disappear. The upper shock absorber bushes on both rear dampers were also flagged as slightly worn in 2022, with only the nearside rear recurring in 2023, indicating general rear suspension bushing fatigue rather than a single failed component. Encouragingly, the 2024 and 2025 tests passed with no advisories of substance, the wiper blade defects in 2025 being purely a service item, and the most recent test on 26 June 2026 returned a clean pass with no defects recorded. The overall trend is therefore one of steady mechanical ageing with no major structural or braking failures, but with a documented history of steering and suspension component wear that any buyer should monitor closely. With 111,693 miles recorded on a 2011 car, the Ka has averaged roughly 7,446 miles per year over its life, which sits squarely in the typical bracket for a vehicle of this age and class. MOT testing has been consistent and annual, with no multi-year gaps that would suggest long periods off the road, so there is no hidden lay-up risk to factor in. That said, the mileage is high enough for a car of this size and weight that consumable wear on steering, suspension, exhaust and engine ancillaries will be more advanced than the modest annual figure might suggest. Small light cars tend to feel every mile through their steering and front suspension components, which is consistent with the advisories seen here. The mileage progression between tests is steady rather than erratic, indicating ordinary continuous use rather than a sudden change in driving pattern or ownership situation. For a prospective buyer, the priorities on inspection should mirror the components the MOT history has already highlighted. The nearside front steering rack inner joint has been flagged for play on two occasions, so on a test drive listen and feel for any clunk or rattle from the front end over bumps, particularly through full lock, and watch for any looseness or wandering in the steering on uneven roads. Front suspension arm bushes, particularly the offside inner arm noted in 2023, should be checked by rocking each front wheel at top and bottom to detect any knocking or excessive movement, and the car should be pushed hard through corners to expose any vagueness or instability that worn bushes would exaggerate. The rear upper shock absorber bushes showing wear mean the rear should be inspected for any knocking from the top mounts when going over speed humps or rough surfaces, and the dampers themselves are worth a visual check for any seepage or corrosion at the piston shaft area. Beyond the specific advisories, the brakes, tyres and exhaust should be examined as the higher-mileage items most likely to need attention next. Inspect the inner and outer faces of all four wheels for brake disc lipping and pad wear, and listen for any binding or squeal from the calipers on the first few applications from cold. Tyre condition on all four corners is important given the 2023 advisories for nearside front and nearside rear tyres being worn close to the legal limit, so uneven wear, feathering, or cracking in the sidewalls should be looked for carefully. Finally, check under the bonnet for any signs of oil seepage from the engine and around the coolant and washer bottle caps, examine the exhaust for corrosion or blowing joints particularly at the manifold and downstream box, and confirm that the wipers, lights and all other items the 2025 test recorded as defective have been properly renewed.