2009 Ford Fiesta 1.6L Diesel · RO09 EUH

The most recent MOT test on 14 March 2025 resulted in a pass, though four advisories were recorded, indicating that while the vehicle remains roadworthy, several components are approaching a threshold where replacement or close monitoring will be required. Reviewing the broader MOT history, the maintenance trend is best described as gradually worsening rather than improving. The 2024 test was clean, but the 2025 tests show a cluster of advisory items and, crucially, a major failure on 13 March 2025 for an excessively worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, which was rectified prior to the pass the following day. Recurring or recurring-pattern advisories on the nearside front tyre, rear exhaust, and front lower engine mount appear across consecutive tests, suggesting these wear items are progressing predictably with age and mileage rather than being one-off observations. The stop lamp failure from October 2019, while isolated and minor in nature, also reminds a buyer that electrical faults on a vehicle of this vintage should not be dismissed. The recorded mileage of 170,934 miles on a 2009 Ford Fiesta equates to an annual average of roughly 10,000 miles, which is consistent with typical private use and suggests the vehicle has been in regular service rather than standing for long periods or being excessively worked. Mileage accumulation appears steady between tests, with no significant gaps indicative of extended lay-ups that might raise concerns about brake caliper binding, fluid degradation, or tyre sidewall perishing. Conversely, the higher end of the mileage spectrum means that mechanical consumables such as suspension bushes, coil springs, exhaust components, engine and gearbox mountings, and clutch components will have endured considerable wear cycles. This is reflected in the MOT record, which lists suspension and exhaust advisories progressively from 2022 onwards, consistent with the natural deterioration curve of a high-mileage supermini. For a prospective buyer, the anti-roll bar linkage ball joint failure on the nearside front is a significant item to inspect closely. Anti-roll bar drop links are a common wear part on Fords of this era, and although the component was replaced to secure the 2025 pass, the corresponding offside link often follows shortly afterwards due to symmetrical wear. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces, and during sharp direction changes, which would indicate the offside link or related bushes are now deteriorating. The nearside front tyre advisory for worn close to legal limit on edge has now appeared on three consecutive MOTs, which suggests an underlying geometry or suspension issue, possibly related to the worn suspension arm rear bush noted in 2023 or the corroded offside front coil spring, which together can cause uneven inner-edge wear. A buyer should request evidence of a recent four-wheel alignment check and inspect the inner and outer edges of all four tyres for stepped or feathering wear patterns. The exhaust advisories from 2022, 2023, and 2025 indicate progressive deterioration of the rear box and surrounding pipework, and while a corroded rear box on a seventeen-year-old vehicle is not unexpected at this mileage, a physical inspection underneath the car is essential to confirm there are no blowing joints, splits, or sections likely to fail imminently. The lower engine mount advisory, repeated in 2025, warrants a cold-start inspection for excessive engine movement on the throttle and any clunking on gear selection, as worn mounts transmit drivetrain vibration into the cabin. Additionally, given the vehicle's age, a prospective buyer should independently verify the condition of timing belt or chain service history depending on engine variant, brake fluid and coolant replacement dates due to calendar-based degradation, the state of the 12V battery which typically requires renewal every four to five years, and inspect all tyres for age-related sidewall cracking regardless of tread depth. The nearside rear wheel being slightly distorted is also worth noting, as it may indicate past kerbing impact and could affect tracking, tyre wear, and ride refinement, so a careful road test for steering vibration at speed is strongly advised.