2012 KIA Ceed 1.6L Diesel · RE12 HBY

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a persistent trend of neglected minor suspension components. While the most recent MOT test in May 2023 at 80,803 miles passed, it again flagged a severely deteriorated nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover. This specific fault is a recurring issue dating back to at least 2020, indicating that previous owners only addressed these components when specifically prompted by an MOT failure or advisory, rather than performing proactive preventative maintenance. The mileage profile is notably low for a fourteen-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,772 miles per year. The record shows a clean period between 2017 and 2019, followed by a period of more frequent defects starting in 2020. Between 2021 and 2023, the car covered 16,396 miles, which represents a consistent low-usage pattern. However, low annual mileage often correlates with the degradation of rubber-based components, as evidenced by the reports of perished and cracked tyres noted in the 2022 test. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension, specifically focusing on the anti-roll bar links and bushes, which have shown consistent signs of wear over the several years. The 2022 test also identified slightly separating rear trailing arm bushes, suggesting the rear suspension geometry is reaching the end of its effective service life. Given the history of thin rear brake pads noted in both 2021 and 2022, the current friction material and discs should be checked for uneven wear or thinning to ensure no immediate attention is required since the last record.