2015 Nissan Leaf Electric · EA15 KTV

The 2015 Nissan Leaf presents a mixed roadworthiness picture marked by a persistent pattern of recurring mechanical advisories despite recent restoration to compliance. The vehicle experienced a significant failure on 2024-07-31 involving three major issues including excessive wear on nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, front lower suspension arm pins or bushes, and inadequate windshield washer liquid supply. However, subsequent passes in November 2025 and August 2026 indicate that these deficiencies were addressed. The most recent MOT conducted on 2026-08-22 returned a clean result with no defects, suggesting that the identified components were repaired or replaced during the interim period. This trajectory shows the car moving toward stability after a period of active remediation rather than remaining in a state of ongoing non-compliance. With 72,239 recorded miles on a model approximately eleven years old, the vehicle accumulates roughly 6,567 miles annually—a rate consistent with typical usage patterns for its age. The testing schedule reveals a notable gap between the 2024-07-31 failure and the 2025-11-07 successful re-test, spanning just one calendar month, which suggests temporary non-compliance was corrected rapidly before the next assessment. There is no indication of rapid mileage acceleration or unexpected drop-offs in the record, meaning the 72,239 figure represents sustained operational distance rather than a burst of high-use activity. The absence of large mileage jumps between the various MOT dates implies the vehicle has remained in regular service throughout its ownership life. Focusing on the specific components flagged in the advising history, the nearside front anti-roll bar linkage exhibits a chronic problem with excessively worn ball joints, a defect that recurred on both the 2024-07-31 failure and the 2025-11-07 pass, indicating either incomplete repair or recurrence of the underlying wear. The front lower suspension arm also shows repeated signs of excessive wear on its pin or bush assembly, requiring verification through a test drive where knocks over bumps would be felt through the chassis. The front tyres have demonstrated progressive deterioration, first appearing as slight wear near the legal limit threshold in 2024 and later registering as completely worn below the 1.6mm tread requirement in 2023—both conditions demanding immediate attention regardless of the car's overall clean status. Additionally, the windshield washer system has been repeatedly cited as providing insufficient washer liquid, a minor but functional issue worth confirming during the test drive. For a prospective buyer, the anti-roll bar linkage and front lower suspension arm represent the highest mechanical concern areas, each with documented excessive wear across multiple failure cycles; a hands-on inspection of the ball joint play and arm bush integrity is essential before committing. The front tyres require replacement soon given their prior close-to-limit wear and subsequent critical deficiency, and the driver should verify that the washer reservoir is properly filled and functioning correctly. While the most recent MOT confirms the vehicle is roadworthy, the historical pattern of recurring advisories warrants caution and a thorough practical examination of these specific systems during the test drive, particularly listening for any clunking or uneven handling that could indicate unresolved linkage play or suspension bushing degradation.