2008 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Diesel · SH08 EBC

The 2008 Ford Fiesta holds a valid MOT pass dated 5 February 2026 at 91,973 miles, though the record reveals a pattern of recurring structural and mechanical advisories that a buyer should treat seriously. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but not improving. The most recent test flagged a corroded nearside rear brake pipe, a worn and pitted front brake disc, a corroded sub-frame, and a deteriorated registration plate. These are not new issues. The sub-frame corrosion advisory has appeared in every test since at least February 2025, and the front brake disc wear has been noted in both January and February 2026. The vehicle failed its January 2026 test on a fractured nearside rear coil spring, excessive corrosion of the offside rear sill, a worn offside front suspension arm ball joint, and a corroded brake pipe. It passed the following month, meaning those specific items were addressed, but the underlying corrosion across the sub-frame and sills remains a persistent concern rather than a resolved one. The mileage profile is notably low for an eighteen-year-old vehicle. At 91,973 miles, the annual average is roughly 5,110 miles. The record shows the car covered approximately 11,195 miles between January 2024 at 80,778 miles and January 2026 at 91,771 miles, which is still modest over a two-year window. There are no dramatic gaps or sudden spikes in the data, but the low annual mileage suggests long periods of standing, which is consistent with the widespread surface and structural corrosion seen across the underside. Vehicles that sit idle tend to develop corrosion on brake pipes, sills, and sub-frames more rapidly than those used daily, and this record reflects exactly that pattern. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the underside. The sub-frame has been flagged as corroded in three consecutive tests, and while testers have not deemed it seriously weakened, the persistence of the advisory means its condition needs hands-on assessment with a torch and probe. The rear sills and spring mountings have shown excessive corrosion at various points, particularly the offside rear sill in January 2026 and the nearside rear coil spring mounting, which was so badly corroded it led to a fractured spring. Check whether the repairs from the January 2026 failure were cosmetic or structural. The nearside rear brake pipe was corroded and covered in grease or other material in both the failed and passed tests, which is unusual and suggests either a temporary cover-up or an ongoing issue that was not fully rectified. Inspect the pipe closely for pitting beneath any coating. The front brake discs have been flagged as worn and pitted in both 2026 tests, indicating the vehicle has been driven with degraded braking surfaces for some time. Examine the discs for scoring depth and check the pads for uneven wear. The offside front suspension arm ball joint was excessively worn in January 2026, so verify whether this was replaced and whether the tracking and alignment were corrected, as uneven front tyre wear was noted in February 2025. The exhaust emissions failure in February 2025 suggests the engine may have been running rich or the catalytic converter is deteriorating, so a live emissions test and a check for stored engine fault codes are advisable. Overall, the car is roadworthy on paper, but the corrosion history and repeated suspension and brake advisories point to a vehicle that has not been consistently maintained to a high standard.