2015 Dacia Duster 1.5L Diesel · DX65 YCP

The 2015 Dacia Duster presents a generally stable maintenance trend, though the record reveals a pattern of deferred minor repairs rather than proactive upkeep. The most recent MOT, conducted on 17 September 2025 at 82,760 miles, passed but flagged perishing on both rear tyres. This is a recurring theme. The vehicle has failed or received advisories on tyres in three of the last five tests, suggesting the previous owner treated rubber consumables reactively, replacing them only when legally necessary. The 2023 failure for a nail in the nearside front tyre and excessive play in the offside front track rod end was rectified for a retest the following day, indicating that safety-critical failures were eventually addressed, but the overall approach appears to be one of minimum compliance. The mileage accumulation of roughly 7,500 miles per year is entirely typical for an eleven-year-old vehicle and implies regular use rather than long periods of dormancy. The annual tests, consistently booked around mid-September each year from 2022 to 2025, confirm a steady ownership pattern with no alarming gaps. The 2023 test recorded zero defects at 68,347 miles, which stands out as a clean bill of health before tyre wear and perishing reappeared in subsequent years. This suggests the vehicle was well maintained mechanically during that period, with the recent tyre advisories pointing more toward age-related deterioration and replacement neglect than underlying mechanical fault. A buyer should inspect the front suspension carefully. The 2022 test noted slight play in the offside front track rod end, which escalated into excessive play by the 2023 failure. Although repaired, any recurrence of steering vagueness or uneven tyre wear warrants immediate checking of the track rod ends and suspension bushes. The rear brakes and suspension components also deserve attention, as the consistent rear tyre perishing could mask alignment issues or binding calipers causing uneven rubber degradation. Structurally, the underbody around the rear axle and suspension mounting points should be examined for corrosion, given the age of the vehicle and the repeated moisture exposure that tyre perishing implies. The exhaust and emissions system has never been flagged, which is encouraging, but a live test under load would confirm the catalytic converter and lambda sensors remain efficient at this mileage.