2010 Ford Fiesta 1.6L Petrol · SV10 MDK

The 2010 Ford Fiesta presents a deteriorating maintenance trend, with the most recent MOT at 135,002 miles in July 2025 revealing multiple corrosion-related defects across structural and mechanical components. While the vehicle passed, the tester flagged a minor exhaust leak, a corroded front sub-frame not yet seriously weakened, corroded coil springs on all four corners, corroded fuel pipes, and a damaged nearside front seatbelt webbing. This represents a significant escalation from the relatively clean record of 2022, suggesting deferred attention to underbody protection and rust prevention as the vehicle aged past 120,000 miles. Mileage accumulation shows consistent use without prolonged storage. Between August 2021 at 110,099 miles and August 2022 at 123,212 miles, the vehicle covered approximately 13,113 miles, a sharp increase from earlier patterns. The subsequent period from August 2022 to July 2024 added only 5,831 miles, dropping to roughly 5,957 miles in the year to July 2025. This moderation to below-average annual mileage for its age may reflect reduced use, though it also raises questions about whether shorter journeys dominated, potentially accelerating corrosion from incomplete exhaust system warm-up cycles and moisture retention in underbody components. The August 2022 failure warrants particular attention. The tester identified a major exhaust leak, lambda reading failure indicating catalytic converter or oxygen sensor inefficiency, complete lighting failure across position lamps, and critically, a nearside front track rod end ball joint worn to the point of serious detachment risk. The prior August 2021 test had already noted slight play in the nearside outer track rod end, giving twelve months of warning that was not addressed until failure. This pattern of reactive rather than proactive maintenance on steering components should concern any prospective buyer. A physical inspection must prioritise structural integrity given the pervasive corrosion now documented. The front sub-frame corrosion, while not yet rated serious, demands close examination for progression, particularly where it mounts to the body shell. All four coil springs require assessment for structural integrity rather than surface rust alone. The recurring exhaust leaks, minor in 2024 and 2025 following the major 2022 failure, suggest either incomplete repair quality or ongoing degradation of the entire system. The seatbelt webbing damage, repeated across two consecutive tests, indicates replacement has been deferred. Finally, the fuel pipe corrosion introduces a potential safety-critical element that ultrasonic cleaning or protective coating may not adequately address at this vehicle's age and mileage.