2017 Dacia Duster 1.5L Diesel · SD67 PXM

This 2017 Dacia Duster presents a roadworthiness profile defined by an isolated but significant structural suspension failure rather than a pattern of accumulating advisories. The most recent test on 3 October 2025 recorded a pass with a single advisory concerning front brake pad wear, which sits within normal service-item expectations for a vehicle approaching a decade of age. The concerning entry sits in the 2024 cycle, where an offside rear coil spring fracture was recorded as a major failure on 4 October 2024, before the same date shows a subsequent pass with no further defects noted. A fractured coil spring is a safety-critical item that compromises rear axle stability and load-bearing capacity, and although the replacement would typically be recorded at a subsequent test, the absence of any advisory referencing the repair means verification of the work carried out, including whether a quality-pattern or genuine spring was fitted, will need to be established independently. The recorded mileage of 47,870 miles across nine years equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 5,300 miles, which is low for the vehicle's age and platform class. This rate of use is consistent with secondary-vehicle duties, regular short journeys, or extended periods of stationary storage between MOT tests. There is no obvious gap between annual test dates to suggest prolonged off-road status, but the modest mileage carries its own mechanical implications. Lower-mileage Dusters frequently present with seized or partially binding brake calipers, especially at the rear where the handbrake mechanism is integrated, hardened suspension bushes that have not been exercised regularly, and dry-rotted tyres from age rather than wear. The 2023 advisories flagging nearside and offside front tyres worn close to the legal limit at only modest mileages is consistent with underuse, age-related rubber degradation, or tracking misalignment. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the rear suspension assembly, specifically the offside rear spring perch, top mount, and surrounding bodywork for any evidence of impact damage or substandard repair following the 2024 coil spring failure. The spring itself should be examined for correct seating, and the bump stop and protective sleeve checked for damage that may have occurred during the fracture event. Listen for clonks or knocking from the rear over speed humps and uneven surfaces, as a replacement spring installed without renewed top mount hardware can transmit noise. On the front axle, given the thin brake pad advisory, the nearside and offside caliper carriers and slider pins should be inspected for free movement, and the discs checked for lipping or uneven wear that would suggest neglected caliper servicing during periods of low use. During the road test, attention should be directed to brake pedal feel, watching for sponginess, excessive travel, or any pull to one side under moderate braking that might indicate a binding rear caliper or a partially seized handbrake cable from infrequent operation. Steering response should be monitored for vagueness or knocking through the front wheels, which on the Duster platform commonly points to worn lower wishbone bushes or anti-roll bar drop links, neither of which have yet generated advisories but are age-relevant items. Tyre condition across all four corners warrants close scrutiny regardless of tread depth, as the 2022 advisory for a nail in the offside rear and the 2023 edge-wear advisories together point to either kerbing damage or alignment issues that should be rectified before further use. Confirming the rear coil spring repair history and inspecting the underbody for any corrosion around the spring seats would be the most pertinent priorities before committing to purchase.