2018 Nissan Navara 2.3L Diesel · 4 PPW

The vehicle was most recently presented for MOT on 2 September 2025, where it passed with no advisories or defects recorded; however, it is important to note that on the same date the vehicle also failed on a major defect for front service brake excessively fluctuating, meaning the failure had to be rectified and a subsequent pass obtained before the certificate was issued. Looking at the broader DVSA history, the 2024 test carried an advisory for front brake disc wear, the 2022 test flagged a nearside front coil spring corroded, and intervening tests in 2021 and 2023 were passed without defect. This pattern suggests a generally well-maintained vehicle but one with a recurring theme of front brake and front suspension deterioration, both of which are heavily loaded items on a pickup of this type. The trend is not worsening dramatically but neither is it improving, and the most recent failure indicates that front brake hardware has progressed beyond acceptable tolerance since the 2024 advisory was issued. With 103,242 miles recorded on an eight-year-old vehicle, this Navara is running at approximately 12,905 miles per year, which is above the national average for this age group and points to genuine working or heavy-use history rather than low-mileage leisure use. Higher annual mileage such as this typically accelerates wear on braking components, clutch and drivetrain mounts, suspension bushes, wheel bearings, and steering joints, and is also consistent with the front brake and front spring issues already noted in the MOT record. There are no unusually large gaps between tests that would suggest the vehicle has stood for prolonged periods, which reduces the likelihood of severe standing corrosion, seized calipers, or perishing of rubber components from disuse. For a prospective buyer, the front braking system must be the primary area of physical inspection, as the advisory for pitted or scored discs in 2024 combined with the subsequent failure for fluctuating brake effort suggests the discs were not replaced at advisement and have now deteriorated further. On a test drive, listen for any brake shudder or vibration through the pedal when slowing from higher speeds, feel for uneven pull to either side under firm braking, and check for a pulsing sensation indicating disc run-out or warped friction surfaces. Inspect the front discs directly for a visible ridge at the outer edge and measure their thickness against the manufacturer minimum, while also examining the caliper slides and guide pins for free movement and signs of sticking, as binding calipers are a common cause of the type of imbalance that produces fluctuating readings on a roller brake tester. The nearside front coil spring advisement from 2022 should also be physically verified, particularly underneath where the spring seats against the axle and upper mount, looking for surface pitting that has progressed through the material cross-section rather than mere cosmetic oxidation, and listening on a test drive over uneven surfaces for any clonking or harsh impact noise from the front suspension. Beyond the recorded defects, the mileage and age profile warrants thorough inspection of other high-wear consumables including all four tyres for uneven shoulder wear indicative of alignment or suspension geometry issues, as well as sidewall cracking from age-related perishing. Given the working-vehicle usage pattern, check the condition of the steering rack gaiters, anti-roll bar drop links, lower control arm bushes, and rear leaf spring bushes for cracking or splitting. The 12V battery should be load tested, as diesel pickups of this age frequently suffer battery degradation, and the service history should confirm timing belt or chain inspection intervals along with recent replacement of brake fluid, coolant, and transmission oil in line with calendar-based schedules rather than purely mileage-based ones. Finally, examine the underside for any fluid weeping from the engine, gearbox, transfer box, and differentials, and confirm that the four-wheel-drive system engages and disengages cleanly, as these are mechanical weak points on high-mileage Navara examples that do not necessarily surface in standard MOT testing.