2009 Ford Fiesta 1.6L Petrol · UU09 CAM

The defining mechanical story of this 2009 Ford Fiesta is one of persistent advisories clustered around the front suspension and a series of recurring emissions and lighting failures, capped by a significant exhaust failure in late 2025. Across the recorded tests, both nearside and offside front suspension arm ball joints have been flagged with slight play on multiple occasions, and a gearbox mounting defect has been carried forward as an advisory across three consecutive tests from late 2022 through late 2023, suggesting these issues were never rectified. The most recent test on 23 December 2025 returned a pass, but only eleven days earlier the vehicle failed with major exhaust faults including a Lambda reading outside specified limits and an excessive carbon monoxide content at idle, which are indicative of catalytic converter degradation, oxygen sensor failure, or fuel/air mixture issues on this age of Ford small petrol engine. Earlier tests in 2024 and 2023 also produced failures, with the 2024 fail resulting from headlamp aim and washer system defects classed as PRS (pass after rectification at the same test), and the 2023 fail involving multiple inoperative rear lamps and a side repeater. Overall the trend is not a stable one; each annual cycle has produced a mixture of advisories, minors, and outright failures, with no period of clean roadworthiness emerging from the record. Mileage stands at 176,282 miles across roughly seventeen years, which equates to an annual accumulation of around 10,370 miles and places this Fiesta broadly in line with average usage for its age. The MOT records contain no extended gaps that would imply long periods off the road, and the testing has remained continuous on an annual basis through late 2025. That said, at this mileage level the wear-sensitive components such as suspension bushes, ball joints, engine mounts, clutch, and exhaust system are well into their second or third life, and the recurring advisories on the front suspension and gearbox mounting are consistent with what would be expected from a high-mileage example rather than any unusual usage pattern. The combination of typical mileage accumulation and a continuous testing history provides useful continuity but does not offset the mechanical wear implied by the odometer reading. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension should be the primary focus of any physical inspection. The repeated advisories for play in both front suspension arm ball joints indicate that the lower wishbones are worn, and on a test drive you should listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front when traversing speed bumps or potholes, as well as any vagueness or rattle through the steering when turning slowly. With the gearbox mounting defect carried as an advisory for three successive tests, it warrants checking for excessive engine and transmission movement when accelerating from rest or stopping sharply, alongside any vibration through the cabin that was not present when the car was newer. The exhaust failure on the 11 December 2025 test is a serious concern; a Lambda reading outside limits combined with high carbon monoxide typically points to a failing catalytic converter or a faulty lambda sensor, both of which are costly repairs on a vehicle of this age and value, so a thorough check of exhaust emissions behaviour under load is advisable, and any smell of rotten eggs or visible blue smoke from the tailpipe should be treated as a red flag. Finally, the historical lighting and washer failures, combined with advisories on door hinges, registration plate deterioration, and slightly distorted front road wheels, suggest a vehicle whose cosmetic and minor functional items have been neglected alongside the mechanical items, making a close visual walkaround and full functionality check of all lamps, washers, and door operation essential before purchase.