2009 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · SW59 FOC

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a pattern of reactive rather than proactive care. While the most recent MOT in July 2025 at 80,405 miles passed with no defects, the preceding failure just one year prior highlights a significant lapse in mechanical oversight. The trend is unstable, as the car consistently fails on multiple fronts, including suspension, lighting, and exhaust components, suggesting that repairs are only addressed when strictly required by the law to pass the annual test. At 17 years old, the mileage of 80,405 miles is remarkably low, averaging approximately 4,700 miles per year. This low usage often correlates with vehicles sitting stationary for long periods, which can accelerate the degradation of rubber components regardless of distance traveled. Between 2022 and 2025, the vehicle covered roughly 20,000 miles, yet this period saw a cluster of failures related to ball joints and CV shaft boots. This indicates that while the engine has low wear, the chassis is suffering from age-related dry rot and material-related fatigue. A buyer must physically inspect the front suspension geometry, as the nearside front ball joint and dust covers have appeared as recurring failure points in 2023 and 2025. The offside outer drive shaft CV boot also showed a split in July 2025, which should be checked for grease leakage and potential inner joint damage. Furthermore, the offside rear anti-roll bar linkage was flagged as excessively worn in the last failure, indicating that the rear suspension is reaching the end of its service life. The record also shows a persistent disregard for basic maintenance, with multiple failures for tyres being below the legal limit in 2022, 2024, and 2025. This suggests the previous owners frequently ignored consumable items until they became safety hazards. An inspection should also verify the exhaust system hangers for security, as a broken hanger was noted in 2025. Given the low mileage and age, a close look for corrosion on brake lines and perished rubber hoses is essential to ensure the vehicle has not suffered from long periods of inactivity.