2019 Ford Freedom 1.5L Diesel · SF69 FPU

A pattern of late-stage brake wear sits at the centre of this Ford Freedom's roadworthiness record. The most recent activity on 21 February 2026 shows a pass with no defects recorded, but this followed a same-day failure where the nearside rear brake pad was found to be below 1.5 mm thick, a classification of Dangerous. An advisory was also issued at that test noting that the rear brake disc was worn, pitted or scored, though not seriously weakened at that point. The February 2025 test told a similar story: the vehicle passed cleanly on 27 February, yet the day before it had failed on a Dangerous defect for a nearside rear tyre with tread depth below the legal 1.6 mm minimum. The 2024 test was a straightforward pass with no advisories. Taken together, the trend is not one of systemic mechanical decay but rather a recurring failure to maintain rear axle consumables, specifically pads, discs and tyres, at the point of test, even though the vehicle has consistently achieved a pass when remedied. The mileage accumulation for this 2019 vehicle is broadly unremarkable. With 50,948 miles recorded over approximately seven years, the annual rate works out at around 7,278 miles, which is entirely typical for a car of this age and segment. There are no extended gaps between MOT tests and no evidence of sudden mileage spikes or unusually low annual figures that would suggest long periods off the road. The continuous year-on-year testing pattern, combined with this steady accumulation, points to a vehicle that has been in regular service rather than one that has stood idle, which is relevant because standing periods can accelerate deterioration of brake components through corrosion and tyre degradation through flat-spotting and sidewall perishing. The consistent usage pattern therefore works in the buyer's favour when assessing overall mechanical condition. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a thorough inspection of the rear braking system, as both the pads and the rear disc have already attracted attention at recent tests. Even though the 2026 pass was recorded clean, the advisory on disc wear suggests the discs may be approaching their wear limit, and any replacement should be confirmed with paperwork showing that the discs were changed alongside the pads, rather than the pads simply being renewed on their own. On a test drive, listen for any metallic scraping or grinding from the rear wheels, particularly on light brake application, and feel for any pulsing through the brake pedal that would indicate disc run-out or uneven wear. The handbrake should also be checked for any lack of holding force, as sticking or binding rear calipers are a common cause of uneven rear pad wear in this type of vehicle. The tyre-related failure in 2025 also warrants attention, given that it was flagged as Dangerous. All four tyres should be inspected for even wear across the tread and for any signs of cracking or bulging in the sidewalls, particularly on the nearside rear. Uneven shoulder wear could point to an alignment issue, suspension wear, or simply under-inflation over time, and any of these conditions should be addressed before further mileage is accumulated. During the test drive, pay close attention to steering behaviour: any pulling to one side under braking, wandering at speed, or a loose or imprecise feel through the centre of the wheel could indicate worn suspension linkages or bushes, which would be consistent with a vehicle of this age and mileage. Finally, given that the rear axle has now been the source of multiple advisories and failures across two consecutive test cycles, a borescope inspection of the rear caliper guide pins and a check for free movement of the calipers would be a sensible precaution, ensuring that the braking system is fully sorted rather than merely passing at the point of test.