2010 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · WN10 XRH

The defining mechanical thread across this Ford Focus MOT history is a recurring pattern of front suspension coil spring failures, with two recorded fracture defects on opposite sides within roughly three years of one another. On 2023-04-26 a nearside front coil spring was recorded as fractured or broken at the Major defect level, and on 2025-05-06 the offside front coil spring met the same criterion. In both cases the failures were severe enough to refuse an MOT pass on the day, but the vehicle subsequently returned within days to record a Pass on the retest, indicating the components were replaced rather than the car being retired. The most recent test on 2026-04-26 returned a Pass with only a minor advisory noting a child seat obscuring inspection of an adult belt, which is not a mechanical concern. Away from the suspension, the only other recorded failure was a 2024 headlamp beam image defect, and the tyre wear advisories from 2022 have not recurred, suggesting that specific issue was addressed. With 107,605 miles accumulated over sixteen years, the vehicle is averaging roughly 6,725 miles per year, which sits within a broadly typical usage bracket for a car of this age. The test intervals show fairly consistent annual presentation, with no extended periods off the road that would raise concerns about seized brakes, perished fuel lines, or deteriorated underbody protection. Mileage progression between tests cannot be precisely verified from the available data as no odometer readings are listed, but the steady annual testing cadence suggests the car has remained in regular service rather than being laid up. For a Focus of this age and mileage, the cumulative wear on ancillary components such as bushes, drop links, wishbone arms, brake discs and the dual-clutch or manual transmission internals should be regarded as significant regardless of how clean the MOT paperwork appears. For a prospective buyer, the priority area to examine is the front suspension assembly as a whole, not just the springs. Fractured coil springs on this generation of Focus are commonly associated with worn top mounts, weakened strut bearings, and tired front wishbone bushes, so it is worth asking whether the lower arm, anti-roll bar drop links, and front subframe mounting bushes were renewed alongside the documented spring replacements. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven B-road surfaces, and feel for vagueness or juddering through the steering wheel over broken tarmac, as these are typical symptoms of worn front suspension components on a high-mileage Focus. Pay close attention to the offside and nearside front strut areas for any signs of fluid seepage from the damper cartridges, which often accompanies spring failure, and check for uneven tyre wear across the front axle as a tell-tale of geometry being out of specification. The headlamp aim failure recorded in 2024 should also prompt a quick functional check, as incorrect beam pattern on a pre-facelift Mk2/3 Focus can result from a fatigued headlamp mounting bracket rather than simply a misaligned bulb. Verify that both dipped beams sit level on a flat surface against a wall and that there is no obvious condensation inside the lamp units. The 2022 advisories on both front tyres being worn to the limit or on the shoulder edge suggest monitoring of front tyre condition is worthwhile, as inconsistent wear patterns can reappear if geometry or suspension components have deteriorated since. Finally, although the MOT record does not address them, items such as rear brake shoes and drums, the clutch master cylinder, and the exhaust flexi section are known wear points on a Focus of this age and mileage, so a raised inspection on a ramp and a thorough road test remain advisable before purchase.