2018 KIA Sportage 1.7L Diesel · RF18 ERJ

Brake wear is the defining theme of this Sportage's test history. Front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in December 2021, yet by January 2023 they had deteriorated to less than 1.5 mm thick, earning a dangerous defect classification and a test failure. That same January 2023 test also recorded a severely deteriorated nearside driveshaft constant velocity boot as a minor. The pads were evidently replaced, as the retest three days later passed, but the pattern repeated in February 2025 when the car failed again, this time for brake fluid significantly below the minimum level alongside a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on its edge; it passed the same day after rectification. The most recent test in February 2026 was a clean pass with no defects, and the 2024 test was likewise unblemished, so the immediate trend has improved, though the recurrence of brake-related defects across three separate years is the standout concern for any buyer. Recorded mileage stands at 60,755 miles over roughly eight years, averaging about 7,600 miles annually, which is typical for a vehicle of this age and suggests neither unusually hard use nor extended periods standing idle. Tests have been conducted at regular annual intervals with no significant gaps in the record, so the mileage progression appears consistent and there is no evidence of long lay-ups that might introduce seized components or perished seals. At this mileage, wear items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and CV boots are exactly the components expected to require attention, which is precisely what the history shows. On a test drive, the braking system deserves the closest scrutiny given its repeated appearance in the record. Check for pedal judder or pulsation under moderate braking, which would indicate warped or unevenly worn discs, and feel for any pull to one side that could suggest a binding caliper. The 2025 low brake fluid failure warrants a physical inspection of the reservoir level and a look along the brake lines and around each caliper for any sign of seepage, since fluid does not drop below the minimum mark without either worn pads consuming the reserve or a leak somewhere in the hydraulic circuit. Confirm that the pads fitted after the 2023 failure have adequate remaining material and that the discs show no deep scoring or pronounced lip at the edge. The severely deteriorated nearside CV boot recorded in 2023 should also be verified as properly repaired rather than merely patched. Listen for a clicking or knocking from the front nearside when turning on full lock at low speed, the classic symptom of a CV joint that has run dry after its boot split and allowed grease to escape and grit to enter. The edge-worn nearside front tyre from 2025 may indicate a tracking or alignment issue rather than simple wear, so check the current tyres for even tread across the width and note whether the steering wheel sits straight and the car tracks true on a level road. Finally, confirm the tyre flagged in 2025 was actually replaced rather than left to wear further, and inspect the opposite front tyre for matching wear patterns.