2014 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · SW14 ABN

The most recent DVSA examination on 6 November 2025 resulted in a Pass, but it was accompanied by three advisories that warrant close attention from a prospective buyer. The presence of advisories at successive tests since 2023 indicates a broadly stable but gradually worsening maintenance profile, primarily centred on underbody corrosion, tyre ageing, and a developing rear wheel bearing issue. Notably, there has been no recurrence of the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System fault that caused a previous refuse in November 2022, which suggests the TPMS has been rectified, likely through replacement sensors or system reset. The clustering of advisories relating to brake pipe corrosion across three consecutive tests suggests this is a persistent condition that should be monitored rather than immediately rectified, but it is a known concern on vehicles of this age exposed to winter road conditions. With 40,194 miles recorded over approximately twelve years, this Fiesta has covered an annual average of around 3,350 miles, which is considerably below the typical mileage for a vehicle of its vintage and points to either very light regular use or extended periods of standing. Low annual mileage of this nature carries its own mechanical implications, particularly with regard to calendar-based degradation of components irrespective of wear. Brake discs may exhibit surface corrosion or binding caliper slides due to infrequent operation, the 12V battery is likely to have suffered from prolonged states of partial discharge, and rubber components such as coolant hoses, fuel lines, and drive belts may have perished from age rather than mileage. Furthermore, standing periods can encourage moisture ingress within the braking system and wheel bearings, the latter potentially explaining the advisory issued for the nearside rear wheel bearing on the latest test. A careful inspection of service history documentation will be essential to confirm that time-based servicing items, including brake fluid replacement every two years and coolant renewal, have been carried out regardless of the low odometer reading. The recurring advisory for tyre perishing, first noted in November 2023 with reference to a 2014-manufactured rear tyre and subsequently addressed, reinforces the expectation that original equipment rubber will have a finite service life of around a decade even with minimal wear. Any tyres currently fitted should be examined closely for sidewall cracking, ozone degradation, and DOT date codes, and replacement should be budgeted if they are approaching the ten-year mark. On a test drive, the buyer should listen carefully for a low humming or droning noise from the rear nearside that varies with road speed, which would indicate progression of the wheel bearing wear, and should perform slow-speed manoeuvres with the windows down to detect any clonking or knocking from the rear coil spring area, the corrosion of which was flagged in the most recent test. The front and rear suspension components were also noted as corroded but not seriously weakened in 2024, so a thorough inspection of bushes, drop links, and anti-roll bar mountings for play and deterioration is advisable. Finally, attention should focus on the braking system, where the persistent advisory regarding corroded brake pipes covered in grease warrants physical inspection underneath the vehicle. The buyer should look for signs of active fluid leakage, weeping joints, or excessive corrosion scaling on the underbody pipework, and should depress the brake pedal firmly to check for any sponginess that could indicate air ingress or seal deterioration within the master cylinder. A standing vehicle may also present with seized or binding brake calipers, particularly at the rear, which would manifest as pulling to one side under braking or excessive heat from a wheel hub after a short journey. The exhaust system should be raised on a ramp if possible to assess for corrosion at the mounting brackets, flexi-joint, and silencer, as these are common replacement items on a Fiesta of this age. With appropriate attention to these age-related concerns and confirmation of a full service history, this low-mileage example should remain a sound proposition, though immediate expenditure on tyres and potential brake pipe treatment should be factored into any offer.