2021 KIA Niro 3 EV Electric · GV70 OYF

The most recent MOT, conducted on 16 January 2026 at 38,705 miles, resulted in a pass, but the record for that same day reveals a failure that raises immediate concerns. The vehicle failed with an exposed ply or cords on the offside rear tyre, a serious structural defect indicating the tyre was driven well beyond its safe serviceable limit. The tester also flagged the offside front and nearside rear tyres as worn close to the legal limit, alongside an empty front windscreen washer reservoir. While these were rectified for the subsequent pass, the presence of a cord-exposed tyre suggests a lapse in basic pre-check maintenance. The maintenance trend is currently stable following the January 2026 pass, but the nature of the defects points to a pattern of neglecting consumable checks rather than a one-off oversight. The mileage progression is consistent and unremarkable for a five-year-old vehicle. The recorded 38,705 miles represents an annual accumulation of approximately 7,741 miles, which is typical for a low-to-average usage electric vehicle. The intervals between tests show steady accumulation: 23,545 miles in February 2024, 29,625 miles in January 2025, and 38,705 miles in January 2026. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer that would suggest the vehicle has been standing idle or tampered with. The data is sparse, with only three test events over the past two and a half years, but the mileage trace is logical and does not indicate excessive wear on mechanical or suspension components beyond what is expected for the age. A buyer should approach this vehicle with a specific focus on the condition of the tyres and the windscreen washer system. The repeated advisory and failure for tyre wear, culminating in a cord-exposed defect, strongly implies the previous owner was not conducting regular visual inspections. Check all four tyres for uneven wear patterns, sidewall damage, and remaining tread depth, paying particular attention to the offside rear. Verify the windscreen washer jets are operational and the reservoir is free from leaks or blockages, as the repeated low-fluid fault suggests a possible system fault or simply habitual neglect. While the electric drivetrain and battery health are not directly tested under the MOT regime, the tyre condition is a reliable proxy for general care. A thorough inspection of the suspension bushes and brake components is also advisable, as aggressive or under-inflated tyre wear can sometimes correlate with alignment issues or binding calipers that may not yet have triggered a formal defect.