2017 KIA Sportage 1.7L Diesel · RX67 VPM

This nine-year-old Kia Sportage presents a concerning mechanical history characterized by multiple dangerous failures and recurring front axle faults before securing a pass on 2026-08-13. While the most recent test shows a clear pass, the preceding test on 2026-08-04 resulted in three dangerous defects—including critically low tyre tread depths and severely reduced parking brake efficiency—alongside a major failure for an excessively worn nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint. This indicates a vehicle that was operated in a severely neglected state regarding basic wear-and-tear items immediately prior to its certification, meaning prospective buyers cannot rely on the final pass alone to assume overall mechanical diligence. With a total of 105,310 recorded miles accumulated across roughly nine years, the vehicle has covered an average of approximately 11,701 miles annually. This usage rate aligns closely with typical driving patterns for a modern family SUV, ensuring the engine and diesel or petrol emissions systems have operated under standard thermal cycles without extended periods of inactivity. However, this consistent mileage accumulation places heavy demands on the chassis, suspension joints, and braking hardware, which is directly reflected in the frequency of brake and tyre advisories logged throughout the vehicle's history. Given the specific failures noted on the recent MOT record, the inspection on a test drive must focus heavily on the front suspension and braking systems. Listen closely for knocking or clunking noises from the front corners when driving over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, which would indicate lingering or poorly repaired wear in the anti-roll bar linkages or wider suspension geometry. Additionally, test the mechanical parking brake firmly on a steep incline to ensure it holds securely without excessive lever travel, and check the footbrake for any signs of imbalance, judder, or reduced stopping power, keeping in mind past advisories concerning pitted front brake discs and imbalanced braking performance. Finally, a thorough physical inspection of all four tyre edges and wheel alignments is essential, given the repeated history of edge wear and the recent dangerous classification for illegal tread depths. Verify that the inner and outer tread blocks show even wear patterns, as rapid shoulder wear often points to neglected tracking or geometry misalignment that will rapidly destroy new rubber. Inspect the condition of the front brake discs and pads directly through the alloy wheels to assess remaining thickness, ensuring the braking components are not still suffering from the scoring and thinning previously flagged by examiners.