2009 Ford Fiesta 1.4L Petrol · YF09 FWW

The vehicle presents a concerning roadworthiness profile with a clear trend of deteriorating suspension and exhaust components. While it passed its most recent test in November 2025 at 110,371 miles, this followed a failure involving multiple critical mechanical defects. The transition from a clean record in late 2024 to significant failures regarding ball joints, coil springs, and axle bushes in 2025 suggests a reactive rather than proactive maintenance approach where parts are only addressed once they fail. At 17 years old with 110,371 miles, the Fiesta has averaged approximately 6,500 miles per year, which is consistent with typical low-use patterns for its age. The data shows consistent annual testing with roughly 7,000 miles covered between November 2023 and November 2024, and another 9,500 miles leading into late 2025. However, the low mileage has not prevented the inevitable degradation of rubber components and metal hardware, which are failing frequently across the recorded history. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the front and rear suspension, as the record shows recurring issues with ball joints, anti-roll bar drop links, and axle bushes. The November 2025 test flagged a severely deteriorated ball joint dust cover and a corroded rear coil spring, indicating that the structural integrity of these components is waning. Additionally, the persistent oil leak at the top of the engine and the minor exhaust leak at the weld box require verification to ensure they are not progressing into more costly failures. The braking system also warrants attention following the 2023 advisory noting that the rear brakes were only just meeting imbalance requirements. Given the history of worn sub-frame pins and axle bushes, a physical inspection should check for excessive structural corrosion on the subframe and mounting points. The vehicle is currently legal for the road but the recurring nature of mechanical failures suggests the car is entering a phase requiring increasingly frequent and expensive repairs.