2009 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · SY09 VGL

The 2009 Ford Fiesta presents a mixed maintenance picture, with the most recent MOT on 10 May 2022 passing cleanly at 100,625 miles. That clean result is now over four years old, meaning the vehicle has not been formally assessed since mid-2022 and its current roadworthiness is unverified. The overall trend is not clearly improving or worsening, but rather punctuated by a significant cluster of serious defects in the 2022 failure that were subsequently rectified for the pass. The 2021 failure flagged binding rear brakes and a corroded brake pipe, while the 2022 failure revealed a corroded and seriously weakened front sub-frame, a seized parking ball joint, and a cut tyre. These are not minor consumable issues. They point to a vehicle that had deteriorated structurally and mechanically before the 2022 repairs. The mileage pattern is unusual and warrants scrutiny. Between the May 2021 test at 95,097 miles and the May 2022 test at 100,625 miles, the car covered 5,528 miles in twelve months, which is broadly consistent with its lifetime average of roughly 5,900 miles per year. However, the recorded mileage has remained frozen at 100,625 since May 2022, suggesting the vehicle has either been standing unused for approximately four years or the mileage is no longer being recorded. A car of this age sitting idle for that long raises its own concerns, including deteriorated brake components from seizure, flat-spotted tyres, dried-out rubber bushes, and fuel system degradation. A buyer should treat the front sub-frame corrosion as the primary structural concern. The 2022 failure cited the sub-frame as corroded and seriously weakened, a defect that directly affects structural integrity and crash protection. Even though it passed a retest, corrosion of this nature on a seventeen-year-old vehicle is rarely a one-off fix. It tends to recur, especially if the car has been stored in damp conditions or exposed to road salt without adequate underbody protection. The front sub-frame mounting area was already flagged as corroded in the 2019 advisory, meaning this has been a developing issue for at least seven years. A thorough inspection of the sub-frame, suspension mounting points, and inner wing seams is essential before purchase. The braking system also demands close attention. The 2021 failure identified an excessively binding offside rear service brake and a corroded rear brake pipe, both of which compromise braking efficiency and can indicate a caliper or wheel cylinder that is partially seized. The 2022 failure added an inoperative parking brake on one side and insufficient parking brake efficiency. These repeated brake-related defects suggest the system has suffered from neglect or prolonged standing. A buyer should check for uneven brake pad wear, seized handbrake cables, and any signs of fluid leaks at the rear. The anti-roll bar linkage ball joint wear flagged in 2022, combined with the sub-frame corrosion, indicates the front suspension has been operating under compromised conditions. Have a suspension specialist inspect all bushes, ball joints, and coil springs for deterioration before committing to the purchase.