2012 KIA RIO 1.4L Petrol · LC12 EXM

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history indicates a recurring pattern of reactive rather than proactive repairs. While the most recent test on 29 January 2026 at 133,627 miles was a pass, it followed a failure just one day prior. This failure highlighted significant wear on the offside front track rod end and the nearside front suspension arm ball joint. The fact that the parking brake only marginally met the efficiency requirement in the passing test suggests the braking system is reaching the limit of its operational tolerance and requires close attention moving forward. At 133,627 miles over 14 years, the car averages approximately 9,500 miles per year, which is consistent with typical UK usage for its age. The record shows steady annual mileage with consistent intervals of roughly 8,000 to 12,000 miles between tests. However, the consistent mileage accumulation has not prevented instances of mechanical wear and tear. For instance, the period between 2020 and 2026 saw multiple failures related to suspension components and brake hardware, indicating that the vehicle has been subjected to substantial stress over its lifetime. A buyer should specifically inspect the front suspension geometry and the condition of the ball joints, as these have been flagged as excessively worn in multiple tests across 2019, 2021, and 2026. The braking system also shows a long history of issues, including binding nearside rear brakes in early 2025 and seriously weakened discs recorded in 2021 and 2022. These faults suggest a potential issue with sticking calipers or corroded components within the braking assembly. Furthermore, the record shows a trend of tyres being run close to the legal limit or worn uneven as seen in 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2026. A physical inspection should verify the alignment of the vehicle to ensure suspension wear is not causing inconsistent tyre wear. While the 2020 test noted corroded brake pipes, a thorough check of the underbody is necessary to ensure that structural corrosion has not compromised the integrity of the chassis at this high mileage.