2014 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Petrol · WH63 EXB

A pattern of tyre wear advisories across four of the five recorded tests is the most prominent feature of this Ford Fiesta's MOT history, suggesting that the geometry, corner weights, or driving style of the vehicle are placing consistent demand on the rubber. The most recent test on 26 January 2026 produced a pass, but flagged the front inner tyres as worn close to the legal limit on both edges alongside an offside rear tyre at 1.8 to 2mm of tread, with an additional advisory for perishing on the offside front inner. Earlier tests reinforce this concern: the January 2024 examination recorded an offside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit on its edge, while the January 2026 outcome shows the pattern has expanded to both front inner positions. Combined with a single advisory for slightly warped front brake discs in 2024 and front brake pads wearing thin in 2022, the record points to a chassis that may benefit from a four-wheel alignment check and closer inspection of the front braking components before they progress from advisory status to test failure. At 42,375 miles over twelve years, this Fiesta has accumulated roughly 3,531 miles per year, which is considerably below the average for a vehicle of its age and is more consistent with short urban runs, light weekend use, or extended periods off the road. The MOT testing has been carried out annually without any significant gaps, indicating the vehicle has remained taxed and on the road throughout, yet the low annual mileage means the engine, transmission, and exhaust system will have experienced fewer thermal cycles than a higher-mileage equivalent. From a mechanical standpoint, light use over a long period tends to accelerate corrosion on undersealed surfaces, brake discs and calipers through lack of regular drying heat, and rubber components such as drive belts, bushes, and gaitors through standing age rather than running wear. The fact that the tyres are perishing and worn on edges rather than simply aged on the tread points to a combination of low mileage and uneven loading or alignment issues rather than straightforward fatigue. Any prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the tyres during a physical inspection, measuring the remaining tread across the full width of each tyre rather than just the central groove, and inspecting both the inner and outer shoulders for the stepped wear pattern flagged on the front inners. Request a full four-wheel alignment printout to confirm the tracking is within tolerance, and inspect all four tyres for cracking of the sidewall rubber given the perishing already recorded. On the braking system, the test drive should include firm pedal applications from around 40mph to check for judder through the steering wheel or pedal, which would confirm whether the slight disc warp noted in 2024 has deteriorated; listen for any binding or scraping from the front calipers on the first few applications after the vehicle has been standing, as low mileage often leads to seized slider pins. Underneath the vehicle, a torch inspection of the suspension arms, anti-roll bar bushes, and coil springs is worthwhile given the age, with particular attention paid to corrosion of the underbody and brake pipes, both of which are common MOT failure points on Fiesta chassis of this generation. The test drive itself should be conducted over varied surfaces including worn urban tarmac, painted lines, and undulating B-roads to expose any knocking or clonking from worn front suspension components that may not yet have reached advisory threshold. Listen for clonking over sharp bumps from the front subframe mounting, which is a known corrosion hotspot on Mk7 Fiestas of this era, and check for any directional instability or steering pull that may correlate with the tyre wear pattern on the front inners. The engine should be allowed to idle from cold during your inspection, noting any smoke from the exhaust that could indicate oil consumption issues typical of higher-mileage Fiesta units, although the low recorded mileage reduces but does not eliminate this risk. Finally, verify that the brake fluid has been changed within the last two to three years as part of any negotiation, since low-mileage vehicles are often neglected for fluid services despite age-related degradation, and inspect the condition of the coolant and any visible rubber hoses for perishing consistent with a twelve-year-old cooling system.