2016 Suzuki Baleno 1.0L Petrol · OV16 KWB

The 2016 Suzuki Baleno presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 08 May 2026 at 89,466 miles. The most recent test recorded only minor advisories for both rear tyres wearing close to the legal limit, a routine consumable issue rather than a mechanical concern. Comparing this to the 2024 failure, where deteriorated front lower suspension arm ball joint dust covers allowed dirt ingress, the record shows a clear resolution of that defect. The vehicle has moved from a failure for suspension-related deterioration to a pass with no structural or mechanical faults, indicating the previous owner addressed the core issue rather than simply patching tyres annually. The mileage accumulation tells a consistent story. Between the May 2023 test at 54,172 miles and the May 2024 failure at 64,457 miles, the car covered 10,285 miles in twelve months. The following year, from May 2024 at 65,850 miles to May 2025 at 76,615 miles, saw 10,765 miles added. The final interval, from May 2025 to May 2026, recorded 12,851 miles. This steady increase of roughly 10,000 to 12,000 miles per annum aligns with typical UK annual usage for a ten-year-old vehicle and suggests regular, sustained use rather than prolonged standing or very light driving. The recurring theme across multiple tests is tyre wear, specifically uneven edge wear on both front and rear nearside tyres. The 2024 failure and both subsequent passes flagged nearside tyres wearing to 2mm on the outer edge. This pattern points to a persistent alignment or suspension geometry issue, likely slight negative camber on the nearside, rather than simple neglect. The front lower suspension arm ball joint dust covers that failed in May 2024 were rectified before the May 2025 test, but the tyre wear pattern persisted, suggesting the underlying geometry may not have been fully corrected. A buyer should inspect the nearside suspension components in person, paying close attention to the tracking and alignment settings. Uneven tyre wear at this frequency will accelerate consumable costs and may indicate worn bushes or tracking arms not yet flagged as MOT failures. The rear brake condition and exhaust emissions should also be verified, given the mileage and age, though neither has appeared as a defect in the record. Overall, the mechanical trend is sound, but the persistent tyre wear warrants a pre-purchase alignment check.