2010 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · SW60 CKA

A persistent pattern of minor but recurring advisories defines this 2010 Ford Fiesta's MOT record, with the most recent pass on 13 May 2026 continuing a trend of clean passes since a single failure in June 2020, when the car was rejected for a major exhaust gas leak at the tail box and an untested emissions reading before passing on the same day, presumably after rectification. The recurring themes across seven years of testing are a steering system repeatedly described as slightly rough (flagged in 2020, 2021, 2025 and 2026), distorted front road wheels noted in 2022, 2023, 2024 and again on the nearside in 2026, perishing front tyres flagged in 2026, a frayed offside rear seat belt webbing noted in both 2025 and 2026, and an engine oil leak recorded in 2023. None of these items has ever escalated to a failure beyond the 2020 exhaust issue, but the repetition suggests items being monitored rather than rectified. The recorded mileage of 45,659 miles over roughly sixteen years equates to around 2,850 miles per year, which is low for the age and consistent with light use or extended periods standing between short journeys. Annual test dates have drifted from June to May without any gaps in the testing record, so there is no evidence of the car being off the road for prolonged stretches. That said, low annual mileage on a car of this age is consistent with the age-related deterioration actually observed in the record: perishing tyre sidewalls, a fraying seat belt, and insecure bonnet sound deadening are all items that degrade with time rather than distance, and the distorted front wheels point to kerb or pothole strikes accumulated over the years rather than high-mileage fatigue. The steering deserves the closest attention on a test drive. A system described as slightly rough across four separate tests, combined with slight play in the nearside front steering arm noted in 2025, warrants a hands-on check: feel for notchiness, resistance or a gritty sensation through the wheel at low speeds and on full lock, and listen for knocks or clonks over uneven surfaces that would indicate worn track rod ends or a deteriorating rack. With the engine cold, check beneath the car and around the engine bay for the oil seepage flagged in 2023, and inspect the front tyres closely for the sidewall cracking recorded in 2026, since perished rubber on a low-mileage car can require replacement regardless of tread depth. The distorted front wheels, flagged repeatedly since 2022, should be assessed by driving at motorway speed and feeling for vibration through the steering wheel or seat that balancing cannot cure; a buckled rim will typically produce a rhythmic shake around 60 to 70 mph. Verify that the 2020 exhaust tail box repair remains gas-tight by listening for blowing or rasping from the rear of the car on a cold start, and confirm the offside rear seat belt retracts smoothly and locks under a sharp tug given the fraying noted in consecutive tests. Overall this is a car with an unbroken run of passes since 2020 but a shopping list of low-grade, slow-burning advisories that a buyer should price into any negotiation and verify have not worsened since the May 2026 test.