2005 Nissan Almera 1.5L Petrol · BL05 OTA

The vehicle currently holds no valid MOT, having last failed the test on 7 February 2022 at 97,963 miles. The maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The 2022 failure exposed serious structural defects: the tester recorded excessive corrosion on both rear sills within 30cm of body mountings, seriously affecting strength, alongside a loose track rod end lock nut with excessive play and multiple lighting failures. This followed a 2021 failure for a track rod end at serious risk of detachment and a worn suspension arm ball joint, showing a decline from the clean 2020 pass at 88,141 miles. Recorded mileage sits at 97,963 against a 2005 build date, an average of roughly 4,665 miles per year. The car covered only 4,279 miles between the February 2020 pass and the January 2021 failure, then just 5,281 miles to the February 2022 failure. Low annual use suggests periods of standing, which accelerates structural corrosion. The 2019 test already flagged chassis corrosion near mountings and a corroded fuel pipe; by 2022 those sills had degraded to a strength-compromising condition. A buyer must treat this Almera as structurally compromised. Both rear sills require physical inspection for perforation and welding repair before any road use. The track rod ends and front suspension arm ball joints need renewal; the loose lock nut in 2022 implies prior fitment was not secured properly. Power steering seepage from the pump and component has persisted since 2019 and should be pressure-tested. Rear brake discs showed pitting in 2019 and were not rechecked before the 2022 failure, so disc and caliper condition remains unknown. The repeated tyre edge wear on the front axle points to neglected alignment after the 2021 steering joints were condemned. Given the four-year gap since the last test, the corrosion will have advanced further off the road.