2016 KIA Sportage 1.7L Diesel · FE65 TTU

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history reveals a trend of reactive rather rather than preventative care. The most recent test in February 2026 at 68,849 miles resulted in a failure due to defective windscreen wipers, a registration plate lamp, and a worn suspension ball joint. While the vehicle passed immediately after these repairs, the presence of play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint suggests that the owner only addresses mechanical wear components once they reach the point of an MOT failure. The mileage pattern is consistent with a ten-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 6,885 miles per year. Between February 2023 at 55,206 miles and February 2026 at 68,849 miles, the car covered 13,643 miles, showing a steady and predictable usage rate. This low annual mileage is generally beneficial for the engine and drivetrain, though it can sometimes lead to rubber components and suspension bushes hardening or cracking over age despite the low distance traveled. A buyer should inspect the front suspension geometry closely, as the record shows recurring issues including an offside lower arm bush in 2023 and the nearside ball joint in 2026. These faults indicate the front-end components are nearing the end of their service life. The brake history also shows thin rear pads were flagged in February 2025 at 65,074 miles, so the buyer must verify if these were replaced and if the discs have become scored from prolonged use. The repeated failure of the registration plate lamp across three different years highlights a lack of basic pre-test inspections by the previous owner.