2019 Ford Focus 1.5L Diesel · ST69 NHG

The defining mechanical theme across the seven years of recorded MOT testing is a persistent focus on rear braking components, with a single dangerous failure inserted into an otherwise continuous annual pass pattern. Four tests have flagged rear brake discs or pads in some form: pitted and scored rear discs were noted on both sides in late 2022, rear brake pads were reported as wearing thin in August 2025, and a further rear brake disc advisory appeared at the most recent test on 28 July 2026. The lone failure occurred on 25 July 2024, when the car failed the MOT because a stop lamp remained illuminated after the brake pedal was released, a defect that was rectified to allow a same-day pass. The advisory history also includes a rear tyre worn close to the legal limit on the nearside in 2025, a loose centre heatshield noted alongside the 2024 stop lamp failure, and a child seat fitted that prevented inspection of an adult belt in the same year. The overall trajectory is not one of acute deterioration but of recurring brake-related wear items appearing at multiple consecutive tests, which suggests the rear brake system has been a chronic area of attention throughout the car's recorded life. Against the vehicle age of roughly seven years, the recorded mileage of 48,145 miles equates to an annual accumulation of approximately 6,878 miles, which sits comfortably within the normal range for a privately used family hatchback of this era. The test dates are evenly spaced across each year from 2022 through 2026, with no multi-year gaps in testing that would indicate extended periods off the road. There are no sudden mileage jumps or stagnation periods in the data that would point to irregular use, and the continuous annual testing supports the assumption that the car has been in regular service throughout the period covered by the records. This consistent usage pattern is mechanically significant because the wear items flagged, particularly brake discs and pads, are consumables that deteriorate predictably with mileage rather than age, so the brake-related advisories align with the usage profile rather than standing idle. For a prospective buyer, the rear braking system should be the principal area of physical inspection, given that discs and pads have been flagged in four separate tests across the last four recorded MOTs. On a road test, the pedal should feel firm and progressive without excessive travel, and any judder felt through the pedal or transmitted into the body under moderate braking would suggest the existing rear discs may have worn beyond the advisory threshold. The handbrake holding ability on an incline should be assessed, as worn rear discs can sometimes correlate with caliper slide pin wear or sticking mechanisms, and a pull to one side under steady braking would warrant immediate further investigation. The tyres should also be inspected on all four corners, since the nearside rear was noted as worn close to the legal limit at the 2025 test, and uneven shoulder wear on the rears specifically could point to alignment or suspension geometry issues rather than simple tyre ageing. A physical inspection beneath the vehicle should pay close attention to the rear brake pipes, flexi hoses, and caliper carriers for any signs of corrosion or seeping, given the recurring disc advisories, while the underbody should be checked generally for surface corrosion typical of a car of this age and usage. The centre heatshield, which was recorded as loose in 2024, should be inspected to confirm it remains securely fixed, as a rattling noise from the centre of the exhaust system on start-up or over bumps would indicate it has worked loose again. The brake light circuit merits specific verification on the test drive, given the dangerous failure in 2024: with the ignition on, confirm that the brake lamps illuminate only when the pedal is pressed and extinguish cleanly when released, and watch for any delay in switch-off. Finally, a scan for any warning lights on the dashboard and a listen for knocks from the suspension over uneven surfaces will complete a targeted appraisal, focusing on the systems the MOT history indicates have warranted the most repeated attention.