2017 Infiniti Q50 2.1L Diesel · FGZ 6424

The 2017 Infiniti Q50 holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 15 June 2026 at 111,998 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The most recent test passed only after a failure three days prior on 12 June 2026 at 111,996 miles, where the parking brake efficiency fell below 50 per cent of the required value. That defect was rectified before the retest, yet both tests flagged slight play in the nearside and offside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joints. These are not new issues. The same rear linkage wear has appeared consistently since the May 2024 test at 87,563 miles, indicating a progressive suspension wear pattern that has persisted across three consecutive annual inspections without permanent repair. The vehicle is passing its MOT, but the underlying deterioration is not being addressed. At roughly 12,444 miles per year, the annual mileage is high for a nine-year-old saloon. The record shows a notable acceleration in usage between June 2023 at 68,935 miles and June 2024 at 87,563 miles, a jump of nearly 19,000 miles in twelve months. The pace then eased to around 7,800 miles over the following year and has since slowed further, with only two miles recorded between the June 2026 failure and retest. That sharp 2023–2024 spike coincides with the first appearance of multiple defects, including play in both front steering rack inner joints and binding rear service brakes, suggesting the car was driven hard during that period without corresponding preventative maintenance. A buyer should focus their inspection on the rear suspension and braking systems. The recurring play in both rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joints points to worn ball joint housings or deteriorated dust boots allowing contamination and grease loss. Check for clunking over uneven surfaces and inspect the linkage boots for splits. The June 2024 advisory for binding rear service brakes, combined with the June 2026 parking brake efficiency failure, raises concerns about seized caliper slides, a sticking handbrake mechanism, or corroded cables. Have a technician measure parking brake effort on a roller and examine rear caliper pistons for free movement. The 2024 test also flagged play in both front steering rack inner joints, which can cause vague steering and uneven tyre wear. Inspect the rack boots for splits and check for knocks during a full lock-to-lock test. Given the high mileage and repeated suspension advisories, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion, particularly around subframes and suspension mounting points, is advisable before purchase.