2017 Ford Focus 1.5L Petrol · SO66 KPV

Tyre condition is the defining mechanical story of this 2017 Ford Focus, with the DVSA record showing a persistent pattern of tread wear issues across multiple years. In January 2025 the car failed with two tyres below the legal 1.6mm minimum, both classified as dangerous defects, and in February 2026 it failed again with a dangerous offside front tyre below the limit, accompanied by advisories for the nearside front and offside rear tyres worn close to the legal edge. The car passed on retest four days later on 9 February 2026, but the advisories for the remaining marginal tyres and rear brake pads wearing thin carried straight through, meaning these items were not rectified at that point. Earlier history adds a 2024 failure for a missing central exhaust heat shield creating a fire risk, also dangerous, and a 2022 advisory for rear brake pads wearing thin alongside a worn nearside rear tyre. The overall trend is not worsening dramatically, but it shows recurring attention needed on consumables rather than a clean run of trouble-free passes. Recorded mileage stands at 71,730 miles over roughly nine years, averaging around 7,970 miles per year, which is typical for a car of this age and consistent with regular mixed use rather than prolonged standing. The test dates show an unbroken annual testing rhythm with no significant gaps, and the mileage accumulation appears steady without sudden jumps that might suggest an odometer anomaly. This usage profile is consistent with the wear items flagged: tyres and rear brake pads are exactly the components expected to need periodic replacement at this mileage, and there is nothing in the record to suggest the car has been subject to unusually harsh or unusually light duty. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priorities are the tyres and rear brakes. Confirm that all four tyres now carry healthy tread across the full width, since edge wear was specifically noted on the front nearside and rear offside; uneven edge wear can indicate wheel alignment or tracking issues, so on a test drive check whether the steering wheel sits straight on a level road and whether the car pulls to one side under braking or cruising. The rear brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in both 2022 and again in 2026, which suggests they were either replaced and worn again or never addressed; ask for evidence of replacement and listen for any grinding or squeal from the rear axle, and feel for pedal pulsation or a low pedal during the drive. Beyond the recurring items, verify that the exhaust heat shield replaced after the 2024 failure remains secure, listening for rattles from beneath the floor over rough surfaces, and confirm the nearside rear direction indicator repaired after the February 2026 failure operates correctly. The wiper blade defect from 2025 is trivial but worth a glance. The 2023 and 2024 passes with no defects recorded show the car can present cleanly, but the repeated dangerous tyre failures indicate that wear items have been allowed to run to or past the legal limit before being addressed, so a pre-purchase inspection should focus on consumable condition rather than assuming recent passes guarantee current roadworthiness.