2016 Infiniti QX70 3.0L Diesel · SA16 RTW

The defining mechanical story of this 2016 Infiniti QX70 is one of broadly consistent pass results across its recorded test history, tempered by a small cluster of advisories that have appeared in recent years and which a prospective buyer should not dismiss. Six MOT tests are on file between March 2019 and January 2024, and the vehicle has passed each time without any recorded failures or dangerous defects. However, the two most recent tests in 2023 and 2024 are not entirely clean. The January 2024 test flagged an oil leak assessed as not excessive along with a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and showing edge wear, while the 2023 test noted a cracked rear stop lamp lens and a corroded rear metal fuel tank strap. These items are individually minor, but taken together they point to a vehicle entering a phase where age-related deterioration is beginning to surface on consumables, sealing components, and underbody metalwork. Mileage accumulation across the recorded tests appears broadly consistent with typical use of a ten-year-old vehicle, although the file does not contain mileages so any specific gaps or jumps cannot be confirmed. The 69,717 miles recorded over a ten-year life equates to an average of roughly 6,900 miles annually, which sits within the normal band for a private-use car of this age. There are two notable features worth highlighting: the testing record shows a gap between the early 2019 test and a second test later that same year in November, with the next entry not appearing until November 2020, and then a shift to January testing in 2022, 2023 and 2024. None of this points to prolonged lay-up, and the continuity of annual testing suggests the vehicle has remained in regular use, which is mechanically favourable for preventing the drying of seals, oxidation of brake system components, and flat-spotting of suspension bushes that affect stored vehicles. At this mileage, wear on original brake discs, original suspension bushes, and original coil springs should be expected. For a prospective buyer, the oil leak advisory recorded at the 2024 test warrants close physical inspection. On a cold start the engine should be observed for fresh drips beneath the sump area, and the underside examined for wet oil residue around the oil filter housing, valve cover gaskets, and rear main seal area. A minor weep is not unusual on a V6 or V7 diesel unit of this age, but the buyer should establish whether the leak has progressed since the advisory was issued, as oil contamination of the undertray or contact with the exhaust system can become a more serious concern. The nearside front tyre edge wear noted in 2024 should be examined for any remaining tread depth across the full width of the tyre and checked against the nearside rear for camber or tracking irregularities, which on a heavy SUV can also indicate worn front suspension components such as control arm bushes, top mounts, or drop links. Any knocking or clonking over uneven surfaces, or steering that fails to self-centre promptly, would warrant further investigation of the front suspension geometry and bush condition. The rear metal fuel tank strap corrosion flagged in 2023 is a particular concern given the structural role these straps play in securing the fuel tank, and it is the type of defect that tends to progress between tests. The buyer should physically inspect the tank straps from beneath the vehicle for advanced surface corrosion, flaking, or any sign that the metal has thinned significantly, as replacement rather than cleaning is usually required once corrosion is established. The stop lamp lens defect from 2023 is a trivial item, but it confirms the vehicle had not been recently valeted or detailed before presentation, and a walkaround should confirm all exterior lenses are intact and free of moisture ingress. On the road, particular attention should be paid to brake pedal feel, as a heavy SUV of this age and weight is prone to binding rear calipers and corroded brake pipe unions, and any pulling under braking or a soft pedal will warrant immediate inspection of the hydraulic system. Finally, a thorough underbody examination on a ramp is advisable given the age, weight, and likely exposure of this vehicle to winter road conditions, with particular focus on subframe mounting points, brake lines running along the chassis rails, and exhaust mounting rubbers, all of which are common corrosion points on a ten-year-old premium SUV.