2018 Nissan Navara 2.3L Diesel · LR18 VGK

A fractured offside rear coil spring recorded as a Major defect in May 2022 and a dangerously under-tread offside rear tyre in May 2024 mark this Navara as a vehicle with at least two genuine structural or safety failures in recent years, rather than a record of consistent roadworthiness. Between these failures the tests passed cleanly, with the 2023 and 2025 examinations recording no advisories, but the 2026 pass reintroduced wear concerns at the front axle, with brake pads noted as wearing thin and the nearside front tyre flagged as worn close to the legal limit and on the edge. That sequence, alternating between clean passes and isolated but serious component failures followed by renewed consumable wear, suggests a working vehicle whose service items are being addressed reactively rather than under a consistent preventative programme. With eight recorded years of use and 141,381 miles on the odometer, this Navara has covered approximately 17,700 miles annually, which is high for a private-sale pickup and consistent with sustained commercial or fleet duty. The mileage progression between tests is broadly steady, and there are no extended gaps that would imply long periods off the road, which removes the usual concerns around seized brakes, deteriorated rubber, and flat-spotted tyres that accompany multi-year lay-ups. At this annual rate, wear on the clutch dual-mass assembly, turbocharger bearings, injector seals, propshaft universal and centre bearings, and the rear leaf-spring eye bushes should be regarded as mid-life rather than early-life concerns, and the high overall mileage means that even components not yet flagged in the MOT record are likely approaching their second or third replacement cycle. A prospective buyer should focus the pre-purchase inspection on the items already highlighted in the test history. The 2022 nearside front coil spring fracture is a known weakness area on pick-ups of this age and loading class, so both front springs and their upper and lower seats should be examined for cracks, corrosion, and sagging, and the front dampers should be checked for fluid misting or top-mount play, with a bounce test performed at each corner to confirm the vehicle settles immediately. The rear axle, given the dangerous tyre tread finding in 2024, warrants a close look at the offside rear tyre wear pattern to determine whether it was an isolated event or a symptom of misalignment, weakened rear leaf springs, or a bent axle beam. Brake feel during a test drive should be assessed for a low or fading pedal, any pulling to one side under firm stopping, and grinding or scraping noises that would confirm the front pads flagged in May 2026 have been replaced with correct-quality material rather than budget linings. Finally, given the high annual mileage, the body, chassis, and underbonnet condition deserve particular attention even though the MOT history does not yet show corrosion advisories. The bulkhead, chassis rails, inner wheel arches, fuel-tank straps, and tow-bar mounting points should be inspected for surface and structural rust typical of a hard-working pickup, while a check for oil misting around the rocker cover, turbo oil feed lines, and intercooler pipework will indicate whether the diesel engine has been worked hard. Underneath, the steering rack gaiters, drive-shaft boots, and front lower suspension arms and bushes should be examined for splits, perishing, and wear, as these items deteriorate quickly on high-mileage vehicles and would be the next likely candidates for advisory or failure entries if the current usage pattern continues.