2010 KIA Sportage 2.0L Diesel · EX53 ALX

The 2026‑01‑30 MOT passed, confirming roadworthiness, but the January 26 2026 failure exposed persistent suspension and braking faults, indicating an inconsistent maintenance trend rather than a stable condition. The most recent test corrected the parking brake deficiency and the wheel fixing omission, but the off‑side front suspension arm bush wear and slight exhaust flex remain, suggesting the underlying wear has not been fully remedied. At 27,790 miles the vehicle is roughly 16 years old, averaging 1,737 miles per year, but the mileage trajectory is uneven: a jump of 3,694 miles occurred between the 2024‑01‑30 and 2025‑01‑24 tests, followed by only 140 miles before the January 2026 test, indicating periods of heavy use interspersed with long idle stretches. The 2021‑01‑27 to 2022‑02‑01 interval added 1,672 miles, and the 2022‑02‑01 to 2023‑01‑31 interval added 1,675 miles, showing that the car has accumulated mileage in bursts rather than steadily. A buyer should therefore inspect the front and rear suspension arms, bushes and ball joints for excessive wear or looseness, test the parking brake efficiency, examine the exhaust system for flex, cracks or DPF pipe damage, verify that all wheel fixing bolts are present and secure, and check the sills and structural members for corrosion, while also confirming brake balance, tyre condition and the integrity of the coil springs.