2016 Ford Fiesta 1.5L Diesel · SN65 ABD

The defining mechanical story of this 2016 Ford Fiesta centres on a rear axle and suspension assembly that has demanded repeated attention across several test cycles, alongside a brake and tyre regime that has produced recurring advisories and two separate dangerous failures. The offside rear axle swivel pin and bush was flagged as slightly worn in 2021, slightly worn again in early 2022 before escalating to a Major failure defect just five days later when the same component was deemed excessively worn, and the nearside rear bush has followed the same progressive wear pattern. Both rear suspension arm bushes were recorded as starting to split in January 2026, and anti-roll bar linkage wear was first noted in 2022. Layered onto this is a brake system where the front discs were pitted and scored in 2025, the front service brakes were fluctuating in 2021, and an offside front brake pipe has been flagged as corroded for two consecutive years. The most recent test on 28 January 2026 was a pass, but it carried five advisories, continuing a pattern of accumulation rather than resolution. The recorded mileage of 58,560 against a ten-year age equates to an average of roughly 5,850 miles annually, which is notably low for a vehicle of this type and vintage. This figure is consistent with the kind of light, mixed-use profile often associated with second-car duties, short urban trips, or extended periods of standing between tests. The recorded mileages in 2021, 2022 and 2023 show consecutive annual readings that are relatively close together, suggesting the car was in regular use during that period, whereas the gap between the 2023 test and the 2025 test represents a longer interval of either stationary storage or very limited running. Lower annual mileage reduces wear on high-cycle components such as the engine and gearbox internals, but it tends to accelerate degradation of rubber components, brake discs through corrosion, underbody protection, and brake fluid condition, which aligns with the pattern of disc pitting, bush deterioration, brake pipe surface corrosion and tyre structural failures seen throughout this history. For a prospective buyer, the rear axle and suspension components should be the primary focus of any physical inspection and test drive. The offside rear swivel pin and bush has already been replaced once, given the 2022 Major failure, and the advisories on the nearside rear bush in 2021 and both rear suspension arm bushes in 2026 suggest that the remaining original components in this area are nearing the end of their service life. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the rear axle over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and pay particular attention to any vagueness or wandering from the rear end under load, as worn swivel pins can introduce rear axle steer instability. Inspect the rear suspension arms and anti-roll bar linkages for perished or split rubber, surface rust on exposed metal, and any signs of recent replacement that has not been declared in the MOT record. The rear tyres should also be examined closely for uneven inner or outer shoulder wear, which on a torsion beam rear axle is a classic symptom of bush wear altering the wheel geometry. The brake system and underbody corrosion protection warrant equal scrutiny. The pitted front discs recorded in 2025 will likely have deteriorated further by now and should be measured for minimum thickness, with a test drive used to detect any judder or vibration through the steering wheel under firm braking that would indicate disc runout. The offside front brake pipe, flagged for surface corrosion in both 2025 and 2026, should be inspected along its full length for blistering, flaking or any seepage of fluid, as surface corrosion that has been concealed by grease can mask more advanced wall thinning. The two dangerous tyre failures in 2022 and 2024, one involving a sidewall bulge and another a tread lump from structural separation, suggest the car has either been kerbed heavily, subjected to pothole impact damage, or run on aged rubber, so all four sidewalls should be checked for bulges and the manufacturing date codes noted. Finally, with low annual mileage and the 2023 to 2025 testing gap, the brake fluid should be regarded as due for replacement regardless of its current test status, and the condition of the rear exhaust noted in 2022 should be rechecked, as corrosion in this area will have progressed since.