2015 Dacia Sandero 0.9L Petrol · SC15 APV

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history reveals a trend of reactive repairs rather than proactive care. While it passed the most recent test on 28 January 2026 at 51,683 miles, it failed just two days prior with a significant list of safety and mechanical defects. These failures included a compromised seat belt anchorage, a major exhaust leak, and multiple worn suspension components. The transition from a multi-point failure to a pass suggests the owner addressed urgent faults only when necessary to obtain a valid test certificate. The mileage profile is notably low for an eleven-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 4,700 miles per year. Between January 2024 and January 2025, the car covered 3,745 miles, and it added another 6,698 miles in the year leading up to the 2026 tests. This low usage suggests the vehicle has not been subjected to heavy motorway stress, but explains the presence of perished rubber components and surface corrosion, which often affect cars that sit for extended periods or are driven only short distances. A buyer must closely inspect the structural integrity of the front sub-frame and Macpherson struts, as corrosion was flagged in the January 2026 test. Although the tester noted this was not yet seriously weakened, the presence of rust on load-bearing areas requires monitoring. The record also shows recurring issues with suspension wear, with ball joints and anti-roll bar linkages failing inspection in both 2024 and 2026, suggesting the front suspension assembly is reaching the end of its service life. The exhaust system requires a thorough check to ensure the major leak identified in early 2026 was fully rectified and not merely patched. Additionally, the front brake discs showed signs of pitting and scoring in 2024, which should be inspected for current thickness and uneven wear. Given the history of failing on tyres due to low tread and cracking, the buyer should verify that the current set is of adequate age and free of impact-related damage.