2014 Dacia Sandero 0.9L Petrol · SD14 XDP

The Dacia Sandero holds a valid MOT pass certificate dated 19 February 2026 at 78,097 miles, yet the maintenance trend is not reassuring. That same day the car failed its initial test with a nearside front track rod end ball joint with slight play, a cut offside rear tyre exposing ply or cords, an offside rear service brake binding, and front sub-frame corrosion. The tester also flagged the sub-frame corrosion as an advisory in the 2024 and 2026 tests, indicating a persistent structural concern rather than a one-off defect. The offside front coil spring fractured and broke in the February 2025 failure at 68,528 miles, a serious suspension fault that was repaired before the pass, but the recurrence of track rod end play across both 2025 and 2026 tests suggests front-end wear is not being fully addressed. Brake binding and corrosion appearing repeatedly point to a pattern of deferred underbody maintenance rather than isolated consumable replacements. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with light annual use. The car covered roughly 10,069 miles between the February 2024 test at 58,471 miles and the February 2025 test at 68,530 miles, then only 9,567 miles in the following year to reach 78,097 miles by February 2026. That slight drop in annual mileage is unremarkable and does not suggest long-term standing or neglect. The record is clean with no gaps in annual testing, so there is no evidence of extended periods off the road. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front sub-frame and surrounding structure. The tester has repeatedly noted corrosion there, and while it has not yet been deemed seriously weakened, a twelve-year-old sub-frame with ongoing corrosion warrants close examination for perforation or reduced structural integrity, particularly around mounting points. The offside rear brake binding flagged in the most recent test demands a road test to confirm the caliper or cable is not dragging, which would overheat the disc and increase fuel consumption. The nearside front track rod end play, present in both 2025 and 2026, should be checked for steering vagueness and uneven tyre wear. Finally, inspect the offside front coil spring carefully for any secondary cracking, and examine all suspension bushes and rear axle for corrosion given the advisory history on rear suspension components.