2022 Dacia Sandero Stepway Comfort TCE 1.0L Petrol · DP10 SCP

The vehicle holds a current, valid MOT certificate issued on 7 May 2026 at 16,629 miles. That pass followed a failure on the same day, which itself was a retest after faults were rectified. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but reveals a pattern of deferred attention to basic items rather than a single catastrophic failure. The most recent test still carried forward two advisories that were not severe enough to fail the vehicle but were noted as marginal wear. The tester flagged the offside front lower suspension arm rear bush as worn and debonding, though without excessive play, and recorded both front brake discs as worn, pitted, scored, and lipped. These are not new defects in isolation. They echo advisories raised in the 2025 test, meaning the front brake disc condition has persisted across two consecutive annual tests and roughly 3,887 miles of use. The suspension bush advisory is new to the 2026 pass, suggesting a fresh wear point has developed in the front suspension over the last year. The mileage profile is notably low for a 2022-registered vehicle. At 16,629 miles recorded on 7 May 2026, the car has covered approximately 3,887 miles in the twelve months between the 2025 and 2026 tests, and roughly 4,157 miles per year on average since new. This is well below the UK typical annual figure of around 8,000 miles. The MOT record shows no gaps in annual testing, with entries in May 2025 and May 2026, so there is no evidence of long periods off the road. However, low annual mileage does not automatically mean low wear. Short-trip, low-speed urban use can accelerate corrosion on brake components and exhaust systems while keeping the odometer reading modest. The persistent front brake disc advisories support this interpretation. The discs are not being kept clean by sustained higher-speed driving, which would otherwise help burn off surface deposits and even out wear. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and braking system. The offside front lower arm rear bush is debonding, which is an early-stage failure of the rubber-to-metal bond. While the tester found no excessive play at the time of the May 2026 test, a deteriorated bush can allow minor suspension geometry shifts under braking and cornering loads, leading to uneven tyre wear and vague steering feel. Check the nearside bush for a matching condition, as these components typically wear in pairs. The front brake discs show pitting, scoring, and a pronounced lip, indicating the discs have been operating at or beyond their minimum thickness threshold for some time. Inspect the disc faces for heat cracking and measure the disc thickness against the manufacturer's stamped minimum. The pads should be examined for uneven wear, which would point to a sticking caliper or seized guide pins. The wiper blades were replaced or repaired between the failed and passed tests on 7 May 2026, so verify the current blades clear the screen cleanly and the washer jets are correctly aimed. Beyond the flagged items, pay attention to the underside for corrosion, particularly around the suspension mounting points, subframe, and exhaust hangers. Low-mileage vehicles that stand for extended periods can develop surface rust that progresses faster than on cars used daily. Check the tyre date codes and tread depth against the legal minimum, as infrequent use can lead to flat-spotting or perished sidewalls even with plenty of tread remaining. The exhaust system should be inspected for perforation, especially at joints and flexi-sections, as short runs prevent moisture from burning off and accelerate internal corrosion. The MOT record is clean of emissions failures, but a visual check for black soot around manifold joints or a sweet smell from the exhaust can reveal early leaks. Overall, the car presents as a low-mileage example with a valid MOT, but the recurring front brake advisories and fresh suspension bush wear suggest the previous owner tolerated marginal component condition rather than proactively replacing items before they reached advisory status.