2011 KIA Soul 1.6L Diesel · LD11 FXF

The most recent MOT inspection on 04 June 2026 resulted in a pass, but the vehicle's recent history indicates a period of escalating mechanical degradation. While the vehicle successfully cleared its latest test, the transition from a failure in June 2025 due to a fractured coil spring to a failure in June 2026 due to an excessive play in the offside front track rod end suggests that suspension and steering components are reaching the end of their serviceable life. The maintenance trend is currently unstable, as the vehicle is showing a pattern of recurring advisories regarding brake binding and deteriorating registration plates, alongside more significant structural wear in the front-end geometry. With a recorded mileage of 124,674 over approximately 15 years, the vehicle has averaged roughly 8,312 miles per year. This represents typical, moderate usage for a petrol-driven hatchback of this era. This level of mileage suggests the vehicle has not been subject to extreme high-speed motorway running, nor has it been left to stand for excessively long periods, which helps mitigate certain types of age-related degradation. However, the cumulative mileage is high enough that wear on consumable components such as suspension bushes, coil springs, and braking hardware is expected and is clearly evidenced by the recent MOT failures and advisories. Prospective buyers should pay close attention to the steering and suspension during a test drive. The advisory regarding slight play in the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, combined with the recent major failure of the track rod end, indicates that the front suspension is becoming loose. You should listen for rhythmic knocking or clunking sounds when driving over uneven road surfaces or navigating speed bumps, as these are classic symptoms of worn ball joints or linkages. Furthermore, the advisory regarding the nearside rear service brake binding is a significant concern. During your test drive, check for any pulling to one side when braking, an unusual smell of hot metal, or excessive heat radiating from the nearside rear wheel after a period of driving, which would indicate a sticking caliper or a collapsed brake hose. Finally, the recurring advisories regarding pitted and scored brake discs suggest that the braking system may be prone to surface corrosion, possibly due to the vehicle being parked in damp environments or used for short, infrequent trips. You should inspect the brake discs through the alloy spokes for deep grooves or heavy rust. Additionally, the deterioration of both front and rear registration plates, while not currently a failure, indicates that the vehicle has been exposed to significant environmental weathering. Given the age of the vehicle, you should also verify the service history to ensure that fluid changes, particularly brake fluid and coolant, have been performed on a calendar basis rather than just by mileage, as chemical degradation occurs regardless of distance travelled.