2017 Dacia Sandero 1.5L Diesel · WN67 OLH

A 2017 Dacia Sandero carrying this mileage presents a notably clean mechanical record, with every test from late 2023 onwards returning a pass and no advisories logged. The single failure recorded on 2023-08-31 carries no defect details, meaning either the cause was rectified off-site prior to re-test on the same day or the category was not captured in the dataset, and crucially there has been no recurrence at any subsequent examination. Four consecutive clean passes from 2023 through to March 2026 demonstrate a stable, consistent state of roadworthiness rather than any deteriorating pattern. For a budget-oriented supermini now nine years old, the absence of any recorded corrosion advisories, suspension component wear, brake pipe concerns, or exhaust defects is a particularly reassuring indicator, given that Sanderos of this vintage can be prone to underbody corrosion and ageing suspension components. The recorded mileage of 99,557 miles over nine years equates to roughly 11,062 miles per year, which sits squarely within typical parameters for a vehicle of this age and class. There are no significant gaps in the annual testing record and no unusual mileage jumps between tests, suggesting the car has been in regular use rather than subjected to long periods of standing. Consistent annual mileage of this magnitude means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and clutch components will have experienced steady wear, while higher-mileage items like suspension bushes, wheel bearings, and drivetrain mounts will be approaching the latter portion of their expected service life. The absence of advisories at 99,557 miles is notable because components like front brake discs, coil springs, and anti-roll bar bushes typically begin to register wear at this point on high-mileage examples. Given the absence of any specific component advisories in the available history, the inspection focus for a prospective buyer should shift toward the areas where a Sandero of this age and mileage commonly begins to show wear despite a clean MOT paper trail. On a test drive, listen carefully for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, particularly from the lower wishbone bushes and anti-roll bar drop links, both of which are known wear items on this platform. Steering should feel tight without excessive play or vagueness around the straight-ahead position, and any clonking when turning the wheel at low speed can indicate worn tie rod ends or drop link deterioration. Pay particular attention to the rear drum brakes, which are often overlooked on these vehicles and can suffer from seized wheel cylinders or worn handbrake mechanisms; confirm the handbrake holds the vehicle on an incline without excessive lever travel. Engine and drivetrain behaviour warrants close attention at this mileage, particularly for any signs of timing chain stretch, which can manifest as a rattle on cold start that diminishes once oil pressure builds. Check for blue smoke from the exhaust on start-up or under hard acceleration, which would indicate valve stem oil seal wear, and listen for any whining or bearing noises from the water pump or alternator area as these accessories are driven by the same belt. Inspect the underbody thoroughly for any surface corrosion on subframe mounting points, brake lines, and the fuel tank area, as the MOT clean record will not necessarily capture early-stage corrosion that has not yet reached rejectable levels. Finally, examine all four tyres for even wear patterns, as uneven front tyre wear can indicate alignment issues stemming from worn suspension components that have not yet been flagged at test time.