2004 Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6L Diesel · YY04 WLR

The most recent DVSA MOT test on 19 September 2019 resulted in a failure, with five major defects cited: an inoperative windscreen washer, a non-functioning offside rear stop lamp, severely reduced light output from both front headlamps due to product contamination or deterioration on the lenses, and most seriously, excessive corrosion within 30cm of a nearside rear body mounting point on an integral sill, which an examiner judged as seriously affecting structural strength. Looking at the trajectory of the recent history, the pattern is clearly worsening rather than stable. The 2015 test passed without advisories, but each subsequent annual attempt has surfaced a growing catalogue of lighting, wiper, brake, suspension, and corrosion issues, with multiple failures across 2016, 2017, and 2018 before the 2019 outcome. The repeated and progressive nature of the headlamp lens deterioration, both rear coil spring failures, anti-roll bar wear, and recurring sill corrosion advisories strongly suggests that underlying maintenance has been deferred rather than addressed. The recorded mileage of 152,653 miles against a 2004 registration places annual usage at roughly 6,939 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age. However, the MOT history available only spans 2015 to 2019, meaning the last confirmed odometer reading is from 2019, and the true current mileage is unknown and unverifiable from the DVSA record alone. It is also worth noting that the gap between the 2017 and 2018 tests was unusually short, suggesting either an early retest or a borderline presentation that year. Regardless of average figures, this vehicle has accumulated significant wear over 22 years, and the combination of age-related corrosion findings and repeated suspension defects indicates that mechanical consumables have endured heavy service life rather than gentle use. For a prospective buyer, the structural corrosion finding on the 2019 test is the single most important consideration. Sill corrosion that an examiner classes as seriously affecting strength within 30cm of a mounting point is not a cosmetic issue and would warrant a thorough physical inspection on a ramp or with the vehicle jacked, paying particular attention to both inner and outer sills, jacking points, chassis outriggers, and the rear suspension mounting areas. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks over uneven surfaces that could indicate perished suspension bushes or tired top mounts, and pay particular attention to the behaviour of the rear axle, as broken coil springs have previously been recorded on both sides. The historical anti-roll bar linkage wear also suggests the front and rear anti-roll bar drop links and bushes may be approaching replacement; listen for rattling or clonking on direction changes or over speed humps. Given the age and the heavy front tyre edge wear noted in 2016, a buyer should also carry out several age-related checks that may not appear on an MOT. Tyres fitted to a 22-year-old vehicle may exhibit sidewall perishing or cracking from age even if the tread depth is legal, so inspect the rubber carefully. Brake discs, particularly the rear ones if drum-in-hat or solid items, are prone to corrosion and binding calipers from standing, so verify the wheels spin freely when cold and that the vehicle pulls up straight. The 12V battery should be load tested, as units of this age frequently fail without warning, and all fluids including coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid should be checked for date and condition, as brake fluid in particular absorbs moisture over time and should be renewed on a calendar basis regardless of mileage. Finally, confirm service history stamps and inspect the exhaust system for leaks or corrosion, as advisories in 2018 suggested gas leakage was already present, and with a further seven years having elapsed, replacement is highly likely to be imminent.