2014 Hyundai IX35 1.7L Diesel · FP14 YDA

Braking system defects dominate this Hyundai ix35's recent history, and the pattern is a worsening one. The 2025 test cycle produced a dangerous failure for front brake pads worn below 1.5 mm thickness, alongside a missing constant velocity boot on the offside front driveshaft joint and advisories for worn, pitted or scored brake discs front and rear. That failure was rectified and the car passed on 4 March 2025, but the rear discs remain flagged as worn and pitted on the pass certificate. This follows a 2024 failure for an inoperative offside rear parking brake, excessive fluctuation of the offside rear service brake, a significantly worn offside rear disc, and parking brake efficiency below requirements, plus a 2023 failure for the same parking brake inoperative defect and low efficiency. The recurrence of parking brake failures across three consecutive test years, each time repaired to pass, points to a chronic weakness in the rear brake and handbrake mechanism rather than isolated wear. The recorded mileage of 145,449 miles over roughly twelve years equates to around 12,100 miles per year, which is high for the age and consistent with sustained regular use rather than standing. There are no significant gaps in the annual test record from 2021 onwards, and the mileage accumulation appears steady. This usage profile explains the heavy brake wear evident in the record: repeated front tyre wear advisories in 2023, a rear tyre advisory in 2021, and the progression from disc advisories to outright disc and pad failures by 2024 and 2025 are typical of a high-mileage vehicle where consumables are being worked hard. A 2022 minor for a deteriorated nearside front track rod end dust cover also fits the pattern of steering and suspension components ageing under sustained use. For a prospective buyer, the rear braking system demands the closest scrutiny. Given the repeated parking brake failures, test the handbrake on a gradient to confirm it holds firmly, and listen for grinding or scraping from the rear wheels, since the rear discs were still advisory for wear and pitting at the latest pass. On the test drive, brake firmly from speed and feel for judder through the pedal or steering wheel, which would indicate disc thickness variation or the fluctuation fault recorded in 2024, and check that the car stops straight without pulling to one side. The missing CV boot recorded in 2025 warrants verification that the replacement boot and joint were fitted correctly: listen for clicking or knocking from the offside front when turning on full lock at low speed, which signals a worn CV joint that may have run dry before repair. Inspect the front brakes for evidence that the dangerously thin pads and worn discs were replaced rather than merely adjusted, and examine the front tyres for edge wear given the 2023 advisories. Finally, check the nearside front track rod end for play by rocking the wheel at the three and nine o'clock positions, as the dust cover deterioration noted in 2022 can allow dirt ingress and accelerate joint wear. Overall this is a high-mileage example with a documented history of recurring brake defects; the recent record cannot be described as clean, and the price should reflect the likelihood of further brake and driveline expenditure.