2006 Chrysler Crossfire 3.2L Petrol · DX06 WUJ

The most recent DVSA examination on 21 May 2026 resulted in a PASS, but two advisories were logged: a slight oil seepage from the steering box and corrosion on a brake pipe that has been concealed under grease or a similar substance. Looking back over the last four years of test records, the pattern suggests a vehicle that is broadly roadworthy but showing clear signs of age-related deterioration, particularly around the rear underbody and braking hydraulic system. The advisory relating to brake pipe corrosion has now been repeated across the 2025 and 2026 tests, and the 2025 examination also flagged rear subframe corrosion and corrosion at an offside rear suspension mounting area, both categorised as not yet seriously weakened but indicative of progressive degradation. A failed test in May 2025 due to an exhaust lambda sensor reading outside limits, combined with a dangerously tread-deficient rear tyre, points to consumables that were neglected at the time, although the subsequent pass suggests remedial work was carried out. Overall, the maintenance trend is best described as stable but with a slow worsening trajectory, especially for corrosion-related items. The recorded mileage of 79,103 miles over a twenty-year lifespan equates to an average of roughly 3,955 miles annually, which is notably low for any vehicle and considerably below what one would expect for a sporting coupé of this type. Such underutilisation typically points to periods of standing or occasional leisure use rather than regular daily driving, and the MOT record reflects gaps consistent with this profile, including an interval of over a year between the September 2023 test and the May 2024 test. Low annual mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain components but introduces its own set of age-related concerns. Brake discs and callipers can seize or corrode severely when left idle, particularly in damp UK conditions, while rubber components such as seals, gaiters, coolant hoses and drive belts degrade primarily through calendar age rather than mileage exposure. The recurring advisories concerning steering box seepage and underbody corrosion are consistent with a car that has spent considerable time stationary between uses. For a prospective buyer, the priority physical inspections should centre on the braking system, given the repeated brake pipe corrosion advisories. A thorough examination underneath should look for advanced corrosion along the full length of the brake lines, particularly at the rear where the advisories have clustered, and any brake pipes coated in grease or underseal should have that covering removed for proper assessment, as concealing pipework is a recognised method of deferring costly replacement. On a test drive, listen for any scraping, grinding or pulsation through the brake pedal that might indicate corroded or warped discs, and check for a soft or spongy pedal that could suggest fluid ingress through corroded pipe joints. The steering box oil leak, flagged in 2023 as a minor defect and then as an advisory in 2025 and 2026, should be monitored for progression; observe the level and cleanliness of power steering fluid and watch for worsening seepage on the ground after the vehicle has been parked. Any signs of steering vagueness or whining from the pump during low-speed manoeuvres would warrant further investigation, as rebuilding or replacing the steering box on this model is a specialist and costly undertaking. Beyond the flagged items, a car of this vintage and usage profile demands careful attention to time-served components. Tyres should be inspected for sidewall perishing and cracking from age rather than just tread depth, particularly given the recorded advisory regarding a nearside front tyre cut and the history of tread-related failures; rubber older than six years should be replaced regardless of remaining tread. The 12-volt battery is likely to be due for renewal and should be load-tested, while all fluids including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and gearbox oil should be checked for condition and service history, as they degrade chemically over time irrespective of mileage. The rear subframe and suspension mounting corrosion advisories warrant inspection from beneath on a ramp to confirm structural integrity has not deteriorated to a serious level since the last test. Finally, given the undertrays fitted at recent tests that prevented full inspection of some components, any pre-purchase evaluation should insist on those covers being removed so that oil leaks, corrosion and wear items on the engine, exhaust and suspension can be examined in their entirety.