2016 KIA Soul 1.6L Diesel · HJ66 OLH

A largely untroubled MOT trajectory defines this 2016 Kia Soul, with six consecutive passes recorded between 2019 and 2025 and no failures anywhere in its history. The most recent examination on 15 October 2025 produced a pass alongside a single advisory for slight inner-edge wear on the offside front tyre, a relatively benign finding that nonetheless hints at the beginnings of geometric irregularity. The earlier record is similarly sparse, the 2021 test standing out as the only occasion where multiple advisories were issued, covering thin nearside front brake pads, nearside front tyre wear at the legal limit, and a slightly binding offside rear service brake. A minor defect was also flagged in 2020 for an illuminated brake fluid warning lamp. Taken together, the pattern suggests a vehicle that has remained roadworthy throughout its life, with isolated wear items rather than systemic deterioration emerging at test time. Recorded mileage stands at 81,352 miles accumulated over roughly a decade, equating to an annual rate of around 8,135 miles, a figure broadly consistent with average usage for a car of this age. The MOT entries themselves do not supply mileage readings, so there is no evidence within the data of irregular gaps, sudden jumps, or extended periods off the road. Mechanical implications of this usage profile are relatively neutral: braking components, tyres, and suspension items would have experienced steady but not excessive service, and the absence of any recorded advisory relating to corrosion, exhaust integrity, or structural condition across all six tests suggests the underbody has held up reasonably well for a ten-year-old vehicle. No multi-year lay-up is evident, so concerns associated with prolonged standing, such as seized calipers, deteriorated coolant, or perished rubber, are not strongly indicated by the record. For a prospective buyer, the advisory history points attention towards the front braking and steering geometry, particularly as the recent offside front tyre wear mirrors the kind of inner-edge deterioration recorded on the nearside front in 2021. On a test drive, listen for any pulling to one side under braking or a steering wheel that sits off-centre, both of which can indicate worn front suspension components such as wishbone bushes, track rod ends, or top mounts. Feel for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, and check that the steering returns smoothly without excess free play. The 2021 advisory for an offside rear service brake binding is worth probing by confirming the rear brakes release cleanly when coming to a standstill and that the vehicle does not pull markedly to one side on light braking application. The brake fluid warning lamp illuminated in 2020 is an isolated minor defect, but the brake system as a whole deserves routine scrutiny given the front pad advisory three years later. Inspect the front discs for lipping or scoring, and check the flexible brake hoses and rigid pipework along the underside for any surface corrosion or signs of recent replacement, as brake line integrity becomes a recurring advisible item on older vehicles. Confirm that all four tyres are matching in age and tread depth, and verify that the wear pattern on the offside front, noted in the latest test, is not worsening through uneven shoulder wear, which could otherwise point to a failing bush or alignment issue. A thorough inspection of the underbody for corrosion, particularly around suspension mounting points and the rear subframe area, would also be prudent given the vehicle's age, even though no such defects have yet been recorded.