2013 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · YA11 OUB

A recurring theme of front-end tyre wear and damping component deterioration runs through the MOT history of this 2013 Ford Fiesta, and that pattern is the defining mechanical story of the car. Across seven recorded tests, every single MOT has been a pass with no failures recorded, but advisories have appeared in all but one of those examinations. The most recent test on 5 September 2025 logged an advisory for corroded rear coil springs at both sides, continuing a sequence of suspension and tyre-related concerns that stretch back to the earliest recorded test in 2018. Specifically, nearside and offside front tyres have been flagged as worn close to the legal limit on edge on two separate occasions (2018 and 2023), the nearside front shock absorber has shown light oil misting at both the 2020 and 2021 tests, and the rear tyres have attracted repeated advisories for cuts or perishing in 2018 and 2022. There is no major failure or dangerous defect recorded, but the consistency of these advisories suggests a vehicle with progressive wear on its cornering hardware and tyres rather than isolated events. The recorded mileage of 19,176 miles against a 13-year registration places this Fiesta firmly in the low-use category, averaging roughly 1,475 miles per year over its life. This is significantly below the typical annual accumulation for a vehicle of this age and type, and the MOT testing dates are closely spaced year-on-year with no obvious extended gaps in testing, which suggests the car has been kept in regular but light use rather than being laid up for prolonged periods. Mechanically, low annual mileage of this nature tends to mean that high-wear drivetrain components such as the clutch, gearbox synchros and engine internals are likely to be lightly stressed, but it also creates a different risk profile for items that degrade with age rather than use. Rubber components, suspension bushes, coil springs, brake pipes and flexible hoses all deteriorate through oxidation and material fatigue regardless of how few miles are covered, and a 13-year-old suspension and braking system will still be carrying its age even if the odometer reading is modest. The corrosion noted on the rear coil springs in the latest test is consistent with this kind of age-related deterioration rather than mileage-driven wear. For a prospective buyer, the practical priorities on a physical inspection and test drive should be driven by exactly the components that have attracted repeated advisories. With the front shock absorber having shown oil misting at two consecutive tests, the nearside front damper should be checked carefully for any current seepage around the body and piston rod, and the vehicle should be driven over uneven road surfaces to listen for any knocking or clonking from the front suspension that would indicate worn top mounts, drop links or anti-roll bar bushings, which are common Fiesta weak points that do not appear in this MOT record but warrant attention on a car of this age. The recurring front tyre edge-wear advisories point towards an alignment or geometry consideration, so a test drive should include a straight-line check for steering pull to one side and any uneven steering return, and the front tyres themselves should be inspected for feathering or inner-edge wear patterns, as the same issue appearing on both front tyres two years apart suggests a persistent characteristic rather than a one-off. The latest advisory regarding corroded rear coil springs should prompt a close look at the spring seats and spring pans for any loss of material thickness, as corrosion at this location can progress to the point of component failure on older vehicles, and any audible clonking or a noticeable change in ride height would be clear warning signs. Beyond the suspension and tyre themes, the rear tyre damage and perishing advisories recorded in 2018 and 2022 indicate that the rubber compounds on this car should be examined for cracking of the sidewalls and tread, particularly on the rear axle. While the MOT advisories noted that the cuts were not deep enough to reach the ply or cords, two sets of rear tyre advisories over four years suggests that tyre condition warrants careful scrutiny at the point of purchase, and a thorough check should be made for any bulges, splits or age-related cracking regardless of remaining tread depth. The brake system has not attracted any advisories across the recorded tests, but on a 13-year-old vehicle with low mileage, the brake calipers, flexi hoses and slider pins are all candidates for seizure through lack of regular use, so a test drive should include firm pedal applications from speed to confirm straight-line stopping without pull, and a low-speed manoeuvre with several reversing stops to check for any binding or judder. Under the bonnet, the oil misting previously noted on the front shock is not engine-related, but a general inspection of the engine bay for any signs of coolant leaks, perished vacuum hoses, or corrosion on the battery terminals and earth straps would be prudent given the vehicle's age, and the coolant and brake fluid should be checked for service date, as fluids degrade over calendar time even when the mileage is low.