2008 Dodge (usa) Caliber 1.8L Petrol · ND08 TSO

The most recent MOT, conducted on 29 May 2026 at 66,031 miles, passed, but the preceding failure just 24 hours earlier at 66,001 miles reveals a vehicle that required prompt remedial work to meet roadworthiness standards. That failure exposed multiple structural corrosion advisories affecting the front sub-frame, both front suspension arms, and critically, the inner and outer sills where rigidity was significantly reduced. The maintenance trend is therefore mixed. While the car has been kept on the road, the pattern of corrosion-related advisories suggests long-standing underbody deterioration that has been managed rather than fully resolved. The presence of an oil wax underseal noted in the May 2026 pass indicates an attempt to slow further corrosion, though such coatings can also mask underlying decay. The mileage pattern is notably low for an 18-year-old vehicle. Between 24 March 2024 at 58,529 miles and 22 March 2025 at 62,947 miles, the car covered just 4,418 miles over a full twelve months. By 29 May 2026, it had added only a further 3,084 miles in just over a year. This equates to roughly 3,668 miles annually across the vehicle's life, well below the UK average. Such low utilisation raises the possibility of extended periods standing still, which can accelerate rubber component degradation, cause brake discs to surface-corrode, and promote moisture-related corrosion in structural sections that regular driving would help keep dry. A prospective buyer should pay close attention to the structural integrity of the sills and sub-frame, given the repeated corrosion findings flagged under sections 5.3.3 and 6.1.1 of the inspection manual. The nearside rear trailing arm bush was flagged as likely to become detached in the May 2026 failure, and the March 2025 pass still carried an advisory for a worn lower rear bush on the nearside front arm, indicating suspension wear that may have progressed. Physical inspection of all suspension bushes, trailing arm mountings, and sub-frame mounting points for play, cracking, or advanced corrosion is strongly advised. The offside front brake disc was noted as significantly and obviously worn at 66,001 miles, so the condition of all brake discs, pads, and calipers should be verified for uneven wear or binding. Beyond the structural and suspension concerns, the failure history points to intermittent minor electrical faults, including an inoperative engine malfunction indicator lamp flagged in March 2024 and a non-functioning rear fog lamp in May 2026. While these are straightforward fixes, their recurrence across different test cycles suggests a pattern of deferred minor repairs rather than proactive upkeep. The undertray noted as likely to become detached in the most recent failure also warrants physical checking. Overall, the vehicle presents as a low-mileage example with a current MOT, but the corrosion history and recurring advisories demand a thorough underbody inspection before purchase.