2020 Skoda Kamiq SE TSI 1.0L Petrol · HP07 ELL

A pattern of front suspension and brake wear advisories has begun to emerge on this Kamiq, signalling that the consumable front-end components are reaching the stage where replacement is imminent rather than optional. The most recent test on 2 December 2025 was recorded as a pass, but only after a repair to the rear fog lamp had been carried out to address a major failure identified just five days earlier on 27 November 2025. Alongside that, the inspector flagged front brake pads as wearing thin and noted slight play in the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, both of which had also been recorded as advisories at the failure test five days prior. The two earlier tests in November 2023 and November 2024 were clean with no advisories, meaning the deterioration is concentrated at the 37,000-mile mark rather than being a long-running trend. The mechanical story therefore is one of an otherwise tidy late-2020 TSI now showing the first signs of front-end wear, with the suspension linkage issue being the most noteworthy as it sits in the major category band when play worsens. At six years old with 37,798 recorded miles, this Kamiq has covered roughly 6,300 miles per year on average, which sits comfortably within the typical usage band for a small family SUV of its age. The annual MOT cadence from 2023 through 2025 has been consistent year-on-year, and there is no evidence of long periods off the road or unusual mileage jumps between tests. Mechanically, this level of use tends to keep most components active rather than allowing corrosion to take hold on brake discs, callipers and underbody hardware, though it does mean the front brake discs and pads will have been worked regularly and are now at a predictable wear-out point. The fact that the front suspension arm ball joint has developed play at this mileage is consistent with a vehicle that has been driven on typical mixed road surfaces rather than exclusively smooth tarmac. For a prospective buyer, the priority items to inspect and budget for are the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint and the front brake pads, both of which were flagged as advisories at the most recent test. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension when traversing speed bumps, potholes or uneven surfaces, particularly over the offside where the play was noted, and feel for any vagueness or slight rattle through the steering wheel over broken tarmac. With the brake pads down to the warning band, expect pedal response to remain acceptable but check for any grinding sensation, and inspect the front brake discs for a pronounced lip on the outer edge which would suggest the discs also need replacing rather than just a pad swap. Because the ball joint play is described as slight, it may still pass a retest in the short term, but it warrants immediate attention as such items can deteriorate quickly from advisory to failure status between tests. It is also worth confirming that the rear fog lamp repair carried out between the failure and the subsequent pass has been completed properly and is functioning reliably, as electrical faults of that nature occasionally recur if the underlying wiring or switch contact was the true cause rather than the bulb itself. A general underbody inspection for any early surface corrosion on suspension components, brake pipes and the exhaust system would be prudent given that the Kamiq is now into its sixth year, even though no corrosion advisories have yet been recorded by DVSA. Finally, verify that the advisory items from December 2025 have either been rectified or costed into your offer, as the suspension arm and front pads together represent the most likely near-term expenditure on this otherwise well-recorded example.