2018 Dacia Duster 1.6L Petrol · SH68 OVF

The 2018 Dacia Duster passed its most recent MOT on 5 June 2026 at 57,726 miles, but the maintenance trend over the preceding two years reveals a pattern of escalating wear rather than consistent upkeep. That June 2026 test followed a failure on the same day, where the tester flagged a non-functioning offside front headlamp on dipped beam and an offside front track rod end ball joint with excessive play, alongside worn and pitted front brake discs on both sides and a perished nearside rear tyre. The track rod end defect is a direct steering and suspension safety failure, not a borderline advisory, and its progression from "slight play" noted in May 2025 at 50,599 miles to "excessive play" by June 2026 suggests the component deteriorated over roughly 12 months and 7,100 miles without intervention. The front brake discs were also flagged as worn, pitted, or scored at the most recent test, indicating surface degradation beyond normal disc wear. The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the trajectory of defects points to a maintenance pattern where wear items are being run to failure rather than replaced proactively. The mileage progression tells a coherent story. Between October 2023 at 37,884 miles and June 2024 at 44,772 miles, the Duster covered 6,888 miles in roughly eight months, then added 5,827 miles between June 2024 and May 2025, and a further 7,127 miles between May 2025 and June 2026. The annualised rate sits close to 7,200 miles per year, which is unremarkable for a vehicle of this age and class. There are no suspicious mileage gaps or sudden drops that would suggest odometer tampering or prolonged standing. The record is clean in that respect. However, the steady mileage accumulation makes the recurring tyre condition advisories harder to excuse. Perished or cracking tyres appeared in October 2023 on the offside rear, in May 2025 on the offside front, and again in June 2026 on the nearside rear. That is three separate advisories across three consecutive tests on different wheels, which implies either the vehicle has spent extended periods stationary with tyres under load, or the previous owner simply did not address a persistent age-related degradation issue. A buyer inspecting this Duster in person should focus on the front suspension and steering linkage first. The track rod end that failed in June 2026 may have been replaced for the retest, but the progression from slight to excessive play over a year warrants a physical check of both inner and outer tie rod ends, along with the steering rack boots, for splits or contamination. The front brake discs should be measured for thickness and lateral run-out, as pitting and scoring suggest uneven pad contact or corrosion, and the pads themselves should be inspected for uneven wear that could indicate a binding caliper slider. The central lower brake pipe flagged as corroded in October 2023 was noted as covered in grease or other material, which may have been a masking measure rather than a repair, so a close visual inspection of the underside brake lines for pitting or fresh underseal over corrosion is advisable. Tyre age codes should be checked on all four sidewalls, including the spare if fitted, given the recurring perishment advisories across multiple test dates.