2016 Renault Kadjar 1.5L Diesel · SA66 NYP

The 2016 Renault Kadjar presents a mixed picture. The most recent test on 25 April 2026 at 125,510 miles passed with zero defects, which is a positive outcome. That clean sheet, however, sits directly alongside a failed test on the same date at the same mileage, where the tester flagged a fractured nearside front coil spring, a fractured offside rear coil spring, a worn offside front lower suspension arm bush, and slight play in the nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint. The car failed first and passed later that day, indicating the serious structural defects were rectified immediately before retesting. The maintenance trend is therefore improving at the point of sale, but the nature of those April 2026 failures raises questions about how long the car was driven in a compromised state before repair. Mileage accumulation tells a clear story. Between 26 April 2024 at 102,234 miles and 25 April 2025 at 115,868 miles, the car covered 13,634 miles in a single year. By 25 April 2026 it had added another 9,642 miles, reaching 125,510. That is roughly 11,600 miles per year over the two most recent years, which is above average for a ten-year-old vehicle. The annual MOT entries are consistent and well-documented, with no suspicious gaps or anomalies in the recorded intervals. The annual test pattern suggests regular use rather than long periods of dormancy. The recurring advisories and failures point to a car that has lived a hard life on poor surfaces. Front suspension arm bushes were flagged as worn in both April 2024 and April 2025, and both front lower suspension ball joint dust covers were noted as no longer preventing dirt ingress during the 2025 failure. Front brake discs were worn and pitted across both inner faces in 2025. Both front road wheels were slightly distorted in 2024 and again in 2025. The offside rear shock absorber showed external casing damage and corrosion in 2025. These are not isolated minor niggles. They cluster around the front end and suggest repeated impact stress, likely from potholes or speed bumps taken at pace. A prospective buyer should have the front suspension, subframe, and steering rack inspected on a ramp, paying close attention to any fresh components that may have been replaced ahead of the April 2026 retest. Despite the clean April 2026 pass, the fractured coil springs from the same day's earlier failure are a serious red flag. A broken coil spring is a sudden, load-critical failure, not a gradual wear item. The fact that two springs failed simultaneously, combined with the worn bushes and damaged shock absorber, suggests the car's suspension has been operating under excessive stress for some time. Before purchase, verify that the replacement springs are matching OEM-specification parts, check for any uneven tyre wear indicating lingering alignment issues, and inspect the front strut tops and lower arms for fresh paint, overspray, or non-original fixings that could indicate rushed cosmetic repairs rather than proper mechanical remediation.