2011 Ford KA 1.2L Petrol · WJ11 KHP

This 2011 Ford Ka presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent test on 25 November 2025 at 66,459 miles passed, yet the tester flagged both rear tyres worn to the legal limit and front brake pads wearing thin. Those are consumable items, but they indicate the car is entering a service interval right now. More telling is the repeat pattern of suspension wear. Rear shock absorber top bushes have been noted as slightly worn in three consecutive years: November 2022 at 48,060 miles, November 2024 at 60,216 miles, and again in November 2025. That is not a one-off advisory. It points to a component that has been degrading steadily and has not been replaced despite being flagged each year. The trend for those bushes is worsening, not resolving. The mileage profile is unusual. Between November 2024 and November 2025, the car covered 6,243 miles in a single year, after several years of much lower use. Before that, the annual average was closer to 3,500 to 4,000 miles. The sudden jump suggests either a change in keeper or a period of prolonged standing followed by heavier use. A car that sits for long periods can suffer from perished rubber components, corroded brake discs, and dried-out seals, which aligns with some of the corrosion-related advisories seen in the record. Corrosion is the most serious theme in this history. In November 2024 at 60,216 miles, the tester flagged corrosion on both rear coil springs, corrosion on both front Macpherson strut top plates, and a corroded rear axle. None were deemed seriously weakened at that time, but corrosion on a 13-year-old car with relatively low mileage suggests the vehicle may have been stored in damp conditions or left standing. A buyer should put the car on a ramp and inspect the rear axle, coil spring seats, and front strut towers closely. Surface rust can hide structural thinning, especially on a vehicle of this age. The front brake discs were noted as worn, pitted, or scored in November 2024, and by November 2025 the front pads were wearing thin. That combination suggests the braking system has been running with degraded discs and is now consuming pads faster. A buyer should check disc thickness and condition before purchase. The recurring suspension arm bush wear noted in 2022 and the persistent rear shock absorber bush advisories mean a thorough check of all front and rear suspension bushes, ball joints, and drop links is essential. This Ka has not failed an MOT outright, but the record reveals a car where corrosion and suspension wear have been monitored rather than repaired.