2013 KIA Sportage 2.0L Diesel · PL63 EFB

Steering wear is the defining theme of this 2013 Kia Sportage's record, with play in the steering rack or its inner joints flagged at three consecutive annual tests from December 2024 through to the most recent pass on 15 December 2025. That latest test passed with advisories for slight free play at the steering wheel, a worn and pitted nearside rear brake disc, and front brake pads wearing thin, but it came only six days after a failure on 9 December 2025 for two dangerous rear tyres with exposed ply or cords and an inoperative windscreen washer. A similar pattern occurred a year earlier, when a December 2024 failure for a non-functioning washer was retested and passed the same day. Earlier history is cleaner: passes in 2021, two in 2023 with no defects at all, and a 2022 pass with only a minor track rod end dust cover issue and a tyre cut advisory. The overall trend is therefore one of a previously unremarkable record that has deteriorated over the last two years, with recurring steering advisories, repeated washer faults, worn braking components, and one episode of tyres being run to a dangerous condition. At 96,388 miles over roughly thirteen years, the car has averaged about 7,400 miles annually, which is typical use for its age rather than unusually light or heavy. The test dates show consistent annual presentation with no significant gaps, so there is no evidence of long-term lay-up; the mileage has accrued steadily through normal use. At this age and distance, wear in steering joints, brake discs, pads, and suspension bushes is expected, and the recorded advisories are consistent with that profile rather than indicative of abnormal usage. The steering rack free play, noted first as inner joint play in 2024 and persisting into 2025, is the item most deserving of scrutiny. On a test drive, check for a vague or wandering feel at the straight-ahead position, a light knock or clunk through the wheel over rough surfaces, and any rattle when rocking the steering gently at a standstill. With the car stationary, have an assistant rock the wheel while you observe the track rod ends and inner joints for lost motion. Progressive play here can advance from advisory to failure, and rack or inner joint replacement is a meaningful cost, so establish whether the play has worsened since the last test and factor potential repair into negotiations. The braking advisories warrant a physical check: the nearside rear disc is worn, pitted, or scored, and the front pads are approaching their limit, so inspect the disc faces for heavy scoring or lipped edges and listen for grinding or feel for pedal judder under braking. The two dangerous rear tyre failures in December 2025 confirm the tyres were replaced before the pass, but verify the replacements are matching, correctly rated, and evenly worn, since uneven rear wear could point to alignment or suspension bush issues. Finally, the washer system has failed twice in successive years on different sides, so test both front washers and the pump thoroughly, as recurrent faults suggest a blockage, pump weakness, or wiring issue rather than a one-off. Obtain evidence of rectification work for the December 2025 failure items before committing.