DACIA SANDERO2018 · 0.9L PETROL

The Dacia Sandero presents a mixed maintenance picture, with the most recent MOT record from September 2025 at 27,522 miles showing a clear deterioration in condition compared to prior years. That test initially failed on four separate items: front brake pads worn below the 1.5 mm legal minimum, a fractured nearside front anti-roll bar linkage, a split nearside front CV joint boot, and perishing rear tyres. The car passed later the same day on 22 September 2025 after remedial work, but the breadth of defects flagged in a single test suggests the vehicle had been running with multiple unresolved faults for some time. The trend is not one of steady upkeep. Between the clean pass in September 2024 at 21,482 miles and the cluster of failures in September 2025, the car accumulated roughly 6,040 miles in twelve months while developing worn brakes, a fractured suspension component, and deteriorating rubber boots and tyres. That pattern points to a period of deferred maintenance rather than routine servicing. The recorded mileage of 27,522 miles across eight years works out to approximately 3,440 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age. The MOT history supports this, showing incremental gains of around 4,450 miles between October 2023 and September 2024, then 6,040 miles in the following year. Low annual mileage can mean reduced mechanical wear in some respects, but it also raises the possibility of prolonged standing, which accelerates rubber deterioration. The recurring advisory for perishing rear tyres in both October 2023 and September 2025, along with split CV boots appearing in consecutive test cycles, is consistent with a car that sits idle for extended periods between short trips. Age-related degradation of rubber and elastomeric components is a more significant factor here than mileage-driven wear. A buyer inspecting this vehicle in person should focus on the front suspension and drivetrain components that have already failed once. The fractured nearside front anti-roll bar linkage and split CV boot were rectified for the September 2025 pass, but the condition of the offside equivalents, the rear anti-roll bar links, and the lower suspension bushes should all be checked for play or deterioration. The front brake pads were worn to below minimum thickness at the last test, so the condition of the replacement pads and the state of the front brake discs should be examined for scoring or uneven wear. The rear tyres have shown perishing across two separate MOT cycles, and both should be closely inspected for sidewall cracking, regardless of remaining tread depth. Given the low mileage and the nature of the defects, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion on the exhaust system, subframe, and suspension mounting points is advisable, as infrequently driven vehicles are prone to moisture-related rust in these areas.