2009 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · WN59 BXG

Chronic advisory wear across the rear suspension and front anti-roll bar hardware is the defining mechanical story of this 2009 Ford Focus, supported by two failed tests in the last three years. The most recent pass on 24 January 2025 was achieved after the vehicle had failed the same day for dangerously misaligned headlamp beams on both sides and a missing fuel tank exhaust shield, an item which presented a genuine fire risk at the time of test. Both rear trailing arm bushes were again flagged as worn, mirroring advisories recorded at the October 2022 test, and a persistent oil leak remains noted. Earlier failures in February 2024 (a missing nearside rear road wheel fixing) and October 2022 (excessively worn nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint plus a broken exhaust cat hanger) confirm that chassis and underfloor integrity issues have been a recurring theme rather than isolated events. Against a 17-year working life, the recorded mileage of 111,475 miles equates to an average of roughly 6,557 miles per year, which sits comfortably within typical usage parameters for a vehicle of this age and class. There are, however, visible gaps in the testing cadence that should be considered when interpreting the record. No MOT tests are recorded between October 2020 and October 2022, a two-year interval during which the vehicle may have either been off the road, exempt from testing, or tested without digital records being captured. While the annualised mileage is modest, the recurring advisories on suspension bushes, brake discs and tyres suggest that the vehicle has still been used consistently enough to generate meaningful wear on those components, particularly the front discs which were scored in both 2021 and 2024. For a prospective buyer, the rear suspension is the single most important area to evaluate on a physical inspection, given that the nearside and offside trailing arm bushes have been flagged as worn but within tolerance on three separate occasions spanning 2022 to 2025. With each annual test, the margin between advisory and failure narrows, so on a test drive it is worth listening for clonks or thuds from the rear over speed humps and undulating surfaces, and for any lateral vagueness or shimmy when changing lanes at speed. The front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, whose dust cover was severely deteriorated at the latest test and whose joint itself was excessively worn in 2022, should be checked by pushing down firmly on each front corner and feeling for a loose or rattling response, as well as listening for a sharp knock over rough roads. Brake pedal feel deserves attention too: the front discs have been scored on two occasions and the same components will be approaching the point at which further wear pushes them into the major defect category, so any judder, vibration through the steering wheel under braking, or a pulsing pedal would suggest replacement is now overdue. The underside corrosion noted in February 2024 as affecting the full length of the vehicle is the other key inspection priority, particularly given that one of the failures involved a missing wheel fixing and another a broken exhaust hanger. A torch and mirror check of the sill covers, subframe, brake pipes, fuel lines and exhaust mounting points is advisable, with particular focus on whether the general corrosion is merely surface scale or whether it is starting to lift, pit through, or compromise structural rigidity. The persistent but non-excessive oil leak should be examined for its source on the engine and gearbox, with staining tracked upwards to identify whether it is a cam cover, sump, or rear main seal issue, any of which would carry varying cost implications. Finally, verify that the headlamp beam pattern on both sides is now correctly aligned and that the fuel tank heat shield has been properly refitted, as both were listed as dangerous or major defects within the last twenty months and represent precisely the kind of items that, if left unresolved, would cause an immediate retest failure.