2009 Ford Ranger 2.5L Diesel · YB58 AAX

The defining mechanical story of this 2009 Ford Ranger centres on a notably unsettled front suspension and a chronically noisy, intermittently leaking exhaust system that have trailed the vehicle across multiple tests. The most recent examination on 5 February 2025 recorded a pass, but the advisory for a noisy exhaust has now appeared at every single test since 2019, alongside deteriorating constant velocity boots on both front inner drive shaft joints, which had to be recorded as minors on this occasion due to their severely deteriorated state. Earlier in 2024 the vehicle failed outright on 2 February due to a dangerous offside front suspension arm ball joint that was deemed likely to become detached, accompanied by a major exhaust gas leak, while the re-test just three days later passed once those items were addressed. This pattern indicates a chassis and exhaust that are progressively wearing rather than holding a stable baseline. Against a 17-year age span, the recorded 173,240 miles equates to roughly 10,191 miles annually, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a working pickup of this era, though the MOT cadence itself tells a slightly different story. There is a clear four-year void between the September 2020 tests and the January 2023 examination, suggesting either a period off the road, an exemption, or simply non-submission for testing during that interval, after which annual testing resumed and mileage appears to have continued accumulating steadily. For a Ranger of this age and workload, that level of annual mileage is not in itself a concern, but it does mean that suspension joints, bushes, dampers, exhaust components, and underbody protection are all at a life-expectancy stage where failures become expected rather than exceptional. A prospective buyer should approach this vehicle with the suspension and exhaust at the top of the inspection list. On a test drive, listen carefully for clonks or knocking from the front end over uneven roads, particularly during full-lock manoeuvres and when traversing speed humps, as the 2024 dangerous ball joint failure and recurring advisories on front suspension arm pins and bushes indicate the lower wishbone assemblies are a known weak point. Inspect both front inner CV boots for fresh grease splatter on the surrounding suspension arms and transmission housing, since both sides were flagged as severely deteriorated in 2025 and any splits will quickly lead to joint failure if not already renewed. Check the rear shock absorbers for any worsening of the light oil misting first noted in 2024, looking for wetness on the body of the dampers or fresh oil residue on the trailing arms, and pay particular attention to the offside rear unit as these are difficult to assess visually on a drive. The exhaust warrants a close manual inspection from underneath while the engine is running, listening for any hiss or ticking that would suggest the joint between the manifold and front pipe, or the pipe itself, has rotted through given the repeated minor leak and noise advisories. Examine all rear brake pipes at the compensator, where surface corrosion has been noted since 2020, and feel for any sponginess or excessive travel in the brake pedal. Under the bonnet, look for any fresh oil seepage from the engine or sump area given the 2023 oil leak advisory, and verify that the battery is now properly clamped in its carrier and that both registration plate lamps illuminate. Finally, inspect the windscreen thoroughly for any deep stone chips or cracks within the driver's swept area, as a dangerous failure for impaired visibility was recorded in 2020, and confirm the engine management light extinguils promptly on start-up following the 2019 emissions and MIL inoperative failure.