2013 Dacia Duster 1.5L Diesel · CV13 YGP

The Dacia Duster holds a valid MOT pass dated 29 September 2025 at 64,389 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The most recent test required a first-time failure on the same day for a trivial screenwash top-up, yet the tester still flagged a corroded offside and nearside front coil spring, corroded front brake pipes, a damaged front lower engine mounting, and an inoperative nearside registration plate lamp. These defects carried over from the 2024 test, indicating the owner has allowed corrosion and component wear to persist rather than address them. The pattern is one of neglect, not repair. The vehicle has covered roughly 4,953 miles per year over thirteen years, which is low for its age. Mileage progression shows 55,798 miles in October 2023, 59,754 miles in September 2024, and 64,389 miles in September 2025, a jump of 4,635 miles in the last twelve months after a slower 3,956 miles the year before. The recent uptick in annual mileage suggests the car is now being used more intensively, yet the MOT record shows no corresponding investment in preventative maintenance. The gap between the 2023 and 2024 tests is eleven months, and the 2024 to 2025 gap is twelve months, so testing intervals are consistent, but the defects are not being resolved between tests. A buyer should treat the front suspension and braking system as priority inspection points. The corroded front coil springs have appeared in both the 2024 and 2025 tests, meaning the metal is actively deteriorating and a fracture risk cannot be ruled out. Corroded front and rear brake pipes, coated in grease or other material to mask the corrosion, have been flagged in every test since 2023 and remain unresolved. The front lower engine mounting is described as damaged but not excessive, yet with no record of replacement, its condition should be physically checked for movement or collapse. The nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has shown slight play since 2023, and the oil leak noted in 2024 was never confirmed as fixed. These are not consumable wear items; they are structural and safety-critical components that have been left to deteriorate. Beyond the MOT flags, the low-mileage profile raises its own concerns. A vehicle standing for long periods can suffer from perished rubber brake hoses, seized calipers, degraded brake fluid, and dry suspension bushes, none of which may appear as advisories until they fail. The tyre condition in 2024, with a cut reaching the ply on the nearside front and an edge-worn offside front, suggests the previous owner was not rotating or replacing tyres in good time. A hands-on inspection should include a thorough underbody examination for corrosion, a brake fluid boil-point test, and a close check of all suspension bushes and engine mounts. The MOT record paints a picture of a vehicle that has been tested, not maintained.