2017 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · SC17 JYW

The 2017 Ford Fiesta presents a generally sound mechanical picture, though the most recent MOT on 21 October 2025 at 54,058 miles reveals a cluster of wear items that suggest basic consumable maintenance may have been deferred. The tester flagged slight play in the nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint, both front tyres worn close to the legal limit and scuffed on their edges, a minor exhaust gas leak at the rear silencer, and front brake discs described as worn, pitted or scored. None of these defects caused a failure, but together they paint a picture of a car that has been run hard without proactive replacement of perishable components. The maintenance trend is stable rather than catastrophic, yet the concentration of advisories in the latest test is a step back after two consecutive clean passes in 2022 and 2023. The mileage pattern is straightforward and typical for a nine-year-old supermini. The car covered roughly 5,000 miles between the October 2022 test at 42,804 miles and the October 2023 test at 47,202 miles, then another 1,857 miles before the failed test on 14 October 2024 at 48,723 miles. It then added 5,335 miles in the twelve days before the retest on 26 October 2024 at 49,059 miles, which is consistent with normal daily use while the windscreen washer fault was rectified. From that point to the most recent test on 21 October 2025 at 54,058 miles, the car accumulated 4,999 miles over a full year, confirming a steady annual rate of around 6,000 miles. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden spikes that would indicate a rolled-back odometer or prolonged storage. The recurring exhaust leak is the most telling fault. A minor gas leak was noted in the October 2024 failure, carried through the October 2024 retest, and appeared again in the October 2025 test, now specifically attributed to the rear silencer. This points to a deteriorating exhaust section that has been left unrepaired for at least twelve months rather than a fresh failure. A buyer should inspect the full exhaust system for corrosion, particularly at the rear silencer and any welded joints, and budget for a replacement centre or rear section if the leak worsens. The scored front brake discs and worn tyres are consumable items, but the edge wear on both fronts hints at possible tracking or suspension geometry issues, likely linked to the flagged anti-roll bar ball joint play. Any pre-purchase inspection should include a close check of the front suspension bushes, drop links, and coil springs, along with a road test to confirm the brakes do not pull or pulse under load. The windscreen washer defect from October 2024 was resolved quickly, so that system appears sound, but a functional test is still wise to rule out a blocked nozzle or failing pump.