2011 Nissan Leaf Electricity · S18 GRJ

The Nissan Leaf in question presents a mixed but ultimately concerning maintenance history, with its most recent MOT—conducted just five months ago on 27 February 2026—showing no defects at 63,891 miles. This clean pass follows a January 2025 failure, where the offside front suspension arm pin or bush was found excessively worn, with both inner bushes debonded. That failure suggests the suspension was left unaddressed for over a year, given the preceding January 2024 MOT had already noted slight play in both front track rod end ball joints. While the latest test cleared these issues, the pattern indicates a history of deferred maintenance on critical steering and suspension components, which could compromise handling and tyre wear if not properly rectified. The vehicle’s mileage—63,891 miles over 15 years—is exceptionally low, averaging just 4,259 miles annually, which is unusual for a car of this age. The recorded figures show minimal movement between tests: only 44 miles were covered between the January 2025 failure and the January 2026 retest, implying either prolonged storage or very light use. This stagnation raises questions about whether the car has been driven regularly enough to justify its condition, or if it has sat idle for extended periods, potentially exacerbating wear on components like seals, fluids, and rubber bushes. The lack of mileage accumulation also means the battery—already a known weak point in early Leaf models—may have degraded further due to inactivity, though this isn’t reflected in the MOT records. For a prospective buyer, the suspension components demand immediate scrutiny. The 2025 failure on the offside front suspension arm bush, combined with the earlier advisories for track rod end ball joints, points to a vehicle that has likely experienced cumulative wear in its steering geometry. Inspecting the bushings for hardness, the track rod ends for excessive play, and the overall alignment would be critical. Additionally, given the car’s age and low mileage, the battery’s state of health should be assessed—early Leaf models are prone to capacity loss, and a static battery could be a hidden cost. The absence of defects in recent tests is encouraging, but the historical pattern of deferred suspension repairs suggests this vehicle may have been neglected in key areas, warranting a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with electric vehicle systems.