2016 Dacia Sandero 0.9L Petrol · CU66 OJO

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 10 November 2025, with the only entry recorded being an advisory noting that manufacturer engine and body covers are fitted, restricting full inspection of certain components during testing. Looking back over the past four tests, all have resulted in passes, which indicates an overall stable maintenance trend rather than any accelerating deterioration. The advisories that do appear are largely consistent in nature from year to year, centring on the front brake discs and front anti-roll bar linkage components, which suggests these are areas of predictable wear for a car of this age rather than signs of neglect. The absence of any structural, corrosion, exhaust, or braking system failures across the recorded history is a positive indicator of the vehicle's general roadworthiness and mechanical upkeep. With 26,935 miles recorded over a ten-year life, this Dacia Sandero has covered an average of roughly 2,694 miles annually, which is considerably below typical usage for a vehicle of its age. This low annual mileage implies either a pattern of short, infrequent journeys or extended periods of standing between uses. While low mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain components, it heightens the risk of age-related deterioration in areas such as rubber components, brake surfaces, and electrical systems. A buyer should consider that the recorded mileage alone does not tell the whole story and that calendar-based ageing will have affected consumables regardless of how few miles have been covered. Because the MOT history shows the same advisory items recurring over consecutive years, particular attention should be paid to the front brake discs and the front anti-roll bar linkages. The brake disc wear advisories first appeared in 2022 and have progressed in wording from worn but not excessively to worn, pitted or scored by 2024, suggesting the discs are now approaching the threshold at which they may need machining or replacement. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for any brake shudder through the pedal or steering wheel under firm application, and visually inspect both discs for a pronounced lip on the outer edge and any deep scoring across the friction surface. Similarly, the recurring advisories on the front anti-roll bar linkage pins or bushes indicate wear in the anti-roll bar drop links, which typically manifest as a clonking or rattling noise from the front suspension over speed humps, rough roads, or during direction changes, and the components themselves should be physically checked for any free play by hand. Beyond the recurring advisories, the low-mileage, ten-year-old profile of this vehicle demands careful inspection of age-related wear items that the MOT test does not fully cover. The 2019 advisory regarding tyre perishing is particularly relevant; even though the car may now have replacement tyres, ten-year-old rubber remains susceptible to sidewall cracking and UV degradation, so all four tyres should be closely examined for fine cracks in the sidewall and checked for their date of manufacture stamp. Standing use can cause brake calipers to bind and brake discs to corrode at the hub interface, so the wheels should be spun freely to check for any grinding resistance, and the discs inspected for surface rust versus structural scoring. The 12V battery is likely original or of considerable age and should be load-tested, as a weak battery is a common failure point on low-use vehicles. Finally, the brake fluid, coolant, and engine oil will all be subject to calendar-based degradation regardless of mileage, and the service history should be verified to confirm these have been changed within their recommended intervals, while a thorough inspection underneath the vehicle is essential given the manufacturer undertray and body covers that have consistently prevented full MOT examination.