2003 Ford Fusion 1.4L Petrol · WF53 AHC

The Ford Fusion passed its most recent MOT on 10 November 2023 at 117,588 miles, yet the test exposed a dense cluster of advisories that reveal a clearly worsening maintenance trajectory. Corrosion and wear items have multiplied since the 2021 records. The vehicle remains road legal but the accumulating defects point to deferred upkeep rather than resolution. Mileage data shows light annual use. Between the 12 November 2021 test at 111,919 miles and the 10 November 2023 pass at 117,588 miles, the car covered just 5,669 miles across two years, averaging under 2,900 miles per year. This low accumulation relative to the vehicle's 23-year age suggests gentle commuting or prolonged storage. The supplied history begins only in late 2021, so earlier care patterns are unseen, but the recent rhythm is steady and uneventful aside from two short-notice failures in November 2021 and November 2022. Recurring faults demand physical verification. The tester flagged severely deteriorated front lower suspension arm ball joint dust covers on both sides in 2022 and 2023, following a single offside defect in 2021; such degradation exposes ball joints to contamination. Brake pipes front to rear and at nearside front and offside rear show persistent corrosion coated in grease, a tactic that masks but does not halt decay. Rear coil springs and front coil spring corrosion progressed from rear-only in 2021 to inclusion of front components by 2023. Rear sub-frame and offside Macpherson strut carry corrosion advisories unchanged since 2022. Power steering seepage from pump and rack noted in 2023 alongside fluid below minimum indicates neglected top-ups; the previous owner let the level drop despite known leaks. Buyer should confirm brake balance on axle two, inspect the minor exhaust gas leak at rear, and check the non-obligatory stop lamp and windscreen chip. The November 2022 failure for service brake efficiency and rear wheel bearing roughness was rectified within three days, showing reactive repair only when forced. This record implies a keeper who addressed statutory failures but ignored creeping structural and mechanical rot.