2010 Ford KA 1.2L Petrol · SP10 LVG

The 2010 Ford Ka currently holds a valid MOT, having passed its most recent test on 29 September 2025 at 65,141 miles. The maintenance trend is broadly stable, though the record reveals a pattern of recurring minor electrical and braking faults that the previous owner appears to have addressed promptly rather than allowing to escalate. The September 2025 failure, logged just one day before the pass, flagged a cluster of issues including an inoperative offside stop lamp, a high headlamp aim, a major front exhaust leak, a binding offside front service brake, and an inoperative nearside parking brake. All of these were rectified within 24 hours, suggesting the owner treated the failure as a prompt for immediate repair rather than neglecting the defects. The pass certificate confirms the vehicle met the required standard at that point, but the nature of the faults, particularly the binding brake and parking brake deficiency, warrants closer inspection to rule out underlying wear in the braking system. The mileage profile is notably low for a 16-year-old vehicle. At 65,141 miles, the Ka has covered roughly 4,071 miles per year, well below the UK average. The record shows a gap of approximately 1,541 miles between October 2024 and September 2025, and 2,608 miles between October 2023 and October 2024, indicating consistent but light annual use. There are no suspicious mileage reversals or large unexplained jumps, so the odometer reading appears credible. Low mileage can mean reduced wear on drivetrain and suspension components, but prolonged periods of standing can also cause deterioration in rubber bushes, brake seizing, and tyre age cracking, all of which are relevant to this vehicle's history. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the front braking system. The September 2025 failure recorded an excessively binding offside front service brake, a fault that can stem from a sticking caliper slider pin, a collapsed brake hose, or uneven pad wear. Check for uneven disc scoring, excessive heat on the offside wheel after a short drive, and smooth caliper operation. The parking brake inefficiency flagged in both 2024 and 2025 suggests the handbrake linkage or rear cable adjustment may be marginal, so test the parking brake hold on a steep incline. The major exhaust leak noted in the 2025 failure has reportedly been fixed, but inspect the front pipe and manifold joint for fresh welding or clamp marks, and listen for blow-on-idle that could indicate a recurring crack. The 2023 advisory for a worn nearside front lower suspension arm rear bush is worth verifying, as this component was flagged but not yet at the point of failure. Excessive play here can cause vague steering and uneven tyre wear. Given the low mileage, the bush may have deteriorated from age rather than use. Check the fog lamp noted as inoperative in 2024, confirm the bulb or wiring has been replaced, and inspect the registration plate lamp circuit that has appeared as a defect in consecutive tests. These are minor electrical items but suggest the previous owner tolerated small faults between tests rather than maintaining everything proactively. Overall, the Ka presents as a lightly used small car with a clean structural record and no corrosion or suspension failure advisories, but the repeated braking and electrical faults mean a pre-purchase inspection focused on the front calipers, exhaust integrity, and suspension bushes is strongly recommended.