2009 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · SC09 OVP

At seventeen years old and 88,637 miles on the clock, this Focus carries a roadworthiness profile defined more by isolated component failures than by any chronic deterioration pattern, with the most recent assessment on 17 May 2025 returning a clean pass. Across the seven recorded tests since 2020, the vehicle has passed six times without defect, but it has also failed twice, each time on a single but specific safety-related item: a fractured offside rear anti-roll bar flagged as dangerous in November 2020, and an obviously incorrect nearside headlamp beam image in November 2023, the latter rectified at the same date to secure a pass. The advisory history is sparse and contained to single occurrences rather than repeating components, suggesting that the underlying structure, braking system, and emissions have remained within test limits throughout the recorded period. The recorded mileage of 88,637 against a 2009 registration implies an annual accumulation of roughly 5,200 miles, which is notably below the typical figure for a car of this age and category. This low usage figure means that wear items such as brake discs, friction materials, tyres, and suspension bushes will have experienced relatively modest mechanical cycling, though extended periods of stationary storage can independently degrade rubber components, brake hydraulic seals, and underbody protective coatings through age rather than use. A gap of approximately fifteen months between the November 2020 test and the October 2021 test is the most notable interval in the record, and this kind of standing time is worth factoring into any inspection, particularly regarding brake feel on first application and any stiffness in the clutch or suspension articulation after prolonged inactivity. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas are dictated directly by the advisory and failure entries. The offside front suspension arm ball joint flagged with slight play in November 2022 warrants a physical check for any progression, including listening for clonks or knocks from the front corner when traversing speed humps or uneven surfaces, and observing for uneven tyre wear across the front axle. The November 2021 advisory on front brake disc wear suggests the discs should be examined for lipping, surface scoring, or any shudder felt through the steering wheel under firm braking. On test, the nearside headlamp should be verified for correct beam pattern and aim against a wall, particularly given the November 2023 failure, as incorrect projection images can recur if alignment has shifted. Finally, although the offside rear anti-roll bar fracture in 2020 was rectified, the replacement component and its associated bushes should be inspected for any subsequent corrosion or cracking, and the offside rear tyre area should be checked for any residual damage given the recorded nail advisory in 2022.