2014 Dacia Duster 1.5L Diesel · SD64 UBH

The Dacia Duster presents a mixed maintenance picture with a stable but incomplete repair trend heading into its most recent test. The September 2025 pass at 67,249 miles shows the owner addressed the dangerously worn front brake discs and significantly weakened nearside front seat belt webbing flagged in the failed test just twelve days earlier. However, two advisories persist. Slight play in both front suspension arm ball joints and the nearside front track rod end ball joint carried over from the failure, indicating these worn joints were noted but not replaced. The vehicle is currently roadworthy, yet the unresolved steering and suspension wear represents an ongoing mechanical trend rather than a fully resolved one. The mileage profile is notably low for a 2014 vehicle, averaging roughly 5,604 miles per year. The record shows a gap of over a year between the October 2023 test at 53,548 miles and the November 2024 pass at 61,474 miles, representing approximately 7,926 miles in that period. The most recent activity is tightly clustered, with the failed and passed tests occurring within twelve days in September 2025 at virtually identical readings of 67,204 and 67,249 miles. This suggests the vehicle saw very little use between late 2024 and late 2025, raising the possibility of long periods standing still, which can contribute to brake pipe corrosion and seized components. The 2023 failure exposed a serious corrosion problem across all four brake pipes and both main lines, a significant structural safety concern that appears to have been rectified given the subsequent passes. Buyers should still inspect the underside thoroughly, paying close attention to the condition of brake lines, unions, and the subframe for any signs of fresh corrosion or patch repairs. The recurring front suspension arm ball joint play, now flagged across multiple tests, warrants a physical check for worn bushes and any clunking under load. The track rod end play, if left unaddressed, will cause uneven front tyre wear and vague steering. A hands-on inspection should also verify the seat belt webbing condition, particularly the nearside front, and examine the front brake discs and pads for any lipping or uneven wear that could indicate a binding caliper. The front tyres should be checked for edge wear, as this was flagged in the 2025 failure and may point to the same suspension geometry issues causing the ball joint and track rod wear. Given the low annual mileage and potential for standing, a test drive over varied surfaces will quickly reveal whether the front end feels loose or knocks, confirming whether these advisories have progressed into failures.