2006 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · WJ06 SCV

The 2006 Ford Fiesta presents a mixed maintenance picture as of its most recent MOT on 23 October 2025 at 87,080 miles. That same day saw an initial failure for contaminated brake fluid, a cut nearside rear seat belt webbing exceeding 4mm, and a defective wiper blade, followed by a pass after rectification. The overall trend is neither clearly improving nor worsening; it is stable but punctuated by recurring suspension wear and intermittent neglect of basic safety items. Suspension arm bushes and ball joints have drawn advisories across multiple consecutive tests, suggesting age-related deterioration that has been monitored rather than permanently repaired. The corroded nearside rear coil spring flagged in October 2025 remains a structural concern that warrants close attention. The mileage progression tells a story of very light use. Between November 2022 at 75,912 miles and October 2025 at 87,080 miles, the car covered roughly 11,168 miles over nearly three years, averaging under 4,000 miles annually. The jump from 81,568 miles in November 2024 to 87,080 miles in October 2025 accounts for most of that total, indicating the car sat largely unused for long stretches before a modest uptick in use. Low annual mileage can preserve mechanical components but also invites its own risks: perished rubber bushes, degraded brake fluid from moisture absorption, and corroded springs from standing are all consistent with what the record shows. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the rear suspension first. The nearside rear coil spring corrosion noted at the October 2025 test is a potential failure point, particularly on a twenty-year-old small hatchback that may have spent time on salted roads or sitting stationary. Check the spring for visible pitting, cracking, or sag, and inspect the rear suspension arm bushes that have worn steadily since at least November 2022. The nearside front suspension ball joint play has appeared in three consecutive tests dating back to November 2024, so have a technician check for actual free play on a raised axle stand rather than relying on the MOT's "slight" descriptor. The contaminated brake fluid that caused the October 2025 failure is a red flag for system health. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, and on a car covering barely 4,000 miles a year, fluid changes may have been overlooked. Inspect the fluid reservoir for dark or murky fluid and check the brake discs, which were flagged as worn and pitted in November 2023. The seat belt webbing damage appearing in both 2024 and 2025 suggests the interior has not been well maintained, so examine all belt retractors and webbing for fraying, cuts, and slow retraction. Finally, verify the headlamp lenses noted as slightly defective in 2024 have not deteriorated further, as clouded lenses reduce night-time visibility on an older unit without modern lighting technology.