2013 Ford KA 1.2L Petrol · WP62 ULW

This 2013 Ford Ka presents a stable but heavily advisory-laden maintenance profile heading into 2026. The most recent MOT on 20 January 2026 recorded a clean pass at 33,487 miles with zero defects, which is a marked improvement over the preceding four years of testing. Between 2022 and 2025, the vehicle consistently accumulated advisories across braking, suspension, and structural corrosion items. The January 2026 result suggests either a thorough pre-test repair campaign or that the tester simply found no new or outstanding issues on the day. Either way, the trend has shifted from persistently flagged wear to a fully clear outcome, which is encouraging for a car of this age. The mileage pattern tells a clear story of very light use. At roughly 2,576 miles per year over thirteen years, this Ka has covered just over 33,000 miles in total. The recorded intervals between tests are tight and consistent: 138 miles between January 2022 and January 2023, 79 miles between January 2023 and January 2024, 138 miles between January 2024 and February 2025, and 82 miles between February 2025 and January 2026. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer, and the mileage progression is entirely linear. This is a vehicle that has been driven sparingly, likely for short urban trips, which can accelerate certain types of wear like brake corrosion and tyre perishing despite low overall distance. The recurring advisories across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 tests paint a picture of a car that was maintained just enough to pass but not proactively repaired. Both front lower arm rear bushes were flagged as worn in 2024 and 2025, and the nearside front tyre showed cracking in 2025. Front brake discs were noted as worn with rust rings in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Both front service brakes were binding in 2023, 2024, and 2025, a persistent issue that can cause uneven pad wear, increased fuel consumption, and overheating of discs if left unresolved. The front subframe and rear axle were repeatedly noted as corroded but not seriously weakened, and the front exhaust mounting was flagged as corroded and broken in 2024 and 2025. These are not new problems; they are long-standing advisories that the January 2026 clean pass suggests may now have been addressed. A buyer should still inspect the front suspension bushes and subframe corrosion in person, as these were flagged across three consecutive tests and may have deteriorated further since January 2026. Check the front brake discs and pads for scoring and uneven wear, particularly given the repeated binding advisories that suggest calipers may not have been fully freed. Examine the front exhaust mounting and the rear axle for any worsening corrosion, and look closely at all four tyres for age-related cracking, since the nearside front and nearside rear tyres were already showing perishing in early 2025. The clean January 2026 result is a positive sign, but the weight of recurring advisories across the prior three years means a physical inspection and a short test drive remain essential before purchase.