2014 Dacia Sandero 0.9L Petrol · SH14 FSV

This twelve-year-old Dacia Sandero carries a mechanical profile defined less by gradual wear and more by two separate front suspension failures, both involving fractured anti-roll bar linkages on the offside, recorded in 2020 and again in 2022. Each of these incidents was categorised as Dangerous, meaning the components were in a state considered unsafe to continue driving, and they resulted in immediate test failures on 14 February 2020 and 16 February 2022 respectively. The 2022 event was accompanied by a Major defect for a split offside front CV boot and an advisory for slight play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint, a combination that points to a front end subjected to either component fatigue, kerbing impact, or both. Although the vehicle has since passed its 2023 and 2024 tests with no defects recorded, and the most recent test on 14 February 2025 produced only Minor items, the recurrence of the same anti-roll bar link failure within a two-year window is the single most significant finding in the history. Minor items at the latest test, a defective front wiper blade and a severely deteriorated offside front outer CV boot, are not failures in their own right but are worth noting because the CV boot issue echoes the Major defect recorded in 2022, suggesting the gaiter replacement may not have been carried out with full attention to the surrounding joint, or that the boot has deteriorated again over the intervening three years. The recorded mileage of 76,933 miles across approximately twelve years equates to an average of around 6,400 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a small, economical hatchback of this age and is consistent with the relatively short intervals between annual tests. There are no extended gaps in the testing record, no periods of SORN indicated by missing data, and the mileage progression between tests appears steady rather than erratic, suggesting the vehicle has been in consistent, modest daily use rather than subjected to long-term standing or unusually high motorway accumulation. For a Sandero of this vintage, that level of use is generally kinder to the engine, transmission and interior trim than very high annual mileages, though it does mean that age-related deterioration of rubber, plastic and underbody components remains a relevant factor regardless of the odometer reading. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection should be the front suspension and drivetrain, given the documented history. The anti-roll bar drop links on both sides should be physically checked for play by hand with the wheel lifted, and the bushes at the ends of the bar itself examined for cracking or separation, as a second failure on the same component indicates the original part specification or fitment quality may be marginal for UK road conditions. The offside front CV joint and boot, flagged as a Major in 2022 and again as a Minor in 2025, should be inspected for fresh grease around the boot retaining clips, and on a test drive any clicking or knocking under sharp steering lock, or vibration through the steering wheel at speed, would indicate joint contamination. The nearside front suspension arm ball joint, which recorded slight play in 2022, warrants a check for any progression of that play, as renewed movement over the intervening years would manifest as a vague wandering feeling at the steering wheel or a clonking noise over speed humps and potholes. Additionally, the rear tyres, which were flagged for cracking and perishing in 2020, should be inspected for sidewall deterioration, and the offside front tyre, previously worn on its edge, may suggest an alignment issue that would benefit from a current geometry check. On the road, listen specifically for any new suspension knocks over uneven surfaces, brake judder or pulling that might indicate warped front discs, and a steady idle without misfire, given the modest annual mileage and the age of the vehicle.