2014 KIA Sportage 2.0L Diesel · GL63 NNF

A consistent thread of rear suspension wear runs through the MOT history of this 2014 Kia Sportage, with the trailing arm bushes flagged on both nearside and offside rear assemblies in January 2025 alongside a deteriorating upper gearbox mounting bush. While the most recent test on 5 January 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories, the earlier 2025 advisories suggest these components were approaching the threshold for concern at that point and have likely continued to degrade over the intervening months without re-inspection. The January 2025 failure also identified a split nearside front inner CV boot and a nearside front tyre with a cut deep enough to expose the ply or cords, both of which would have required rectification before the test could pass, but neither item is represented in subsequent advisories so cannot be verified as having been professionally repaired. The 2024 test additionally recorded pitted and thinning brake discs at both rear positions and perished/cracking on both rear tyres, indicating that consumable wear on the rear axle was already an active concern a year prior to the suspension advisories emerging. With 114,467 miles accumulated over roughly 12 years, this Sportage averages around 9,500 miles annually, which sits squarely within normal parameters for a family SUV of this era and age. There are no significant gaps in the testing record, indicating continuous use rather than extended periods off the road, which generally means the mechanical components have been worked regularly rather than suffering from prolonged standing. The mileage progression between tests is steady and consistent, suggesting no unusual usage profile such as heavy towing, commercial use, or extended high-mileage journeys that might accelerate wear beyond what the recorded figures would suggest. At this odometer reading, drivetrain components including clutch, dual-mass flywheel (if manual), and automatic transmission internals are entering the territory where preventative attention is sensible, though no drivetrain faults have been flagged in the testing history to date. For a prospective buyer, the priority components to physically inspect are the rear trailing arm bushes and the upper gearbox mounting. With the test station flagging wear but not excessive movement in January 2025, a year of additional use could now push these beyond acceptable tolerance. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear suspension over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and during sharp direction changes, particularly unloaded from the rear. A loose trailing arm bush typically produces a hollow, irregular knock rather than the higher-pitched rattle of a worn top mount. The gearbox mounting deterioration, meanwhile, can manifest as a shudder or vibration through the centre console and gear lever during pull-away in first gear or when changing from first to second under load, and you may notice a slight clonking noise when shifting between drive and reverse on an automatic. The rear brake discs, flagged as pitted and thinning in 2024, warrant a thorough inspection given the additional mileage accumulated since. On the road, any brake pedal judder under firm deceleration would indicate the discs have now worn beyond their service limit, as pitted surfaces lose their ability to bed in with new pads effectively. Inspect the rear tyres directly for sidewall cracking or perishing, as the advisory condition noted in 2023 and 2024 tends to progress regardless of mileage, and a 12-year-old vehicle will commonly show age-related rubber degradation even with adequate tread depth. Finally, examine the nearside front inner CV joint area for fresh grease deposits around the boot, listen for clicking on full-lock turns at low speed, and verify there are no vibrations through the steering at higher road speeds that might indicate the failed boot has caused premature joint wear.