2016 Mitsubishi ASX 2.3L Diesel · WP66 FJA

The Mitsubishi ASX presents a mixed mechanical picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 27 October 2025 at 94,597 miles, passed but flagged three advisories that point to neglected basic maintenance. An oil leak, though deemed not excessive, was present alongside a deteriorated front registration plate and a parking brake that only just met minimum efficiency. That last point is the most telling, the tester explicitly noting the braking system likely requires adjustment or repair. Comparing this to the clean passes of 2022 and 2023, the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The car has gone from a defect-free record to multiple advisories in a single year, suggesting routine servicing may have been deferred. The mileage accumulation tells a story of changing use. Between October 2021 and October 2022, the car covered roughly 15,352 miles. The following year, 2022 to 2023, saw 16,083 miles added. Then from October 2023 to October 2024, the jump was 14,967 miles. However, the most striking figure is the gap between the October 2024 test at 80,090 miles and the October 2025 test at 94,597 miles, a leap of 14,507 miles in twelve months. That is a significant increase and the first time the annual mileage has risen noticeably above the car's lifetime average of roughly 9,460 miles per year. Such a spike accelerates wear on consumables and places additional stress on the engine, transmission, and braking components already showing strain in the latest test. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the braking system first. The 2025 advisory regarding parking brake efficiency demands a thorough check of the handbrake cables, rear calipers, and brake shoes or pads for uneven wear or binding. The oil leak, even if minor, warrants a close look at the engine and under-tray to identify the source, whether that is a failing rocker cover gasket, oil filter housing seal, or crankshaft oil seal. Left unattended, even a small leak can escalate into a costly contamination of the clutch or timing components. Tyre condition also deserves attention. The record shows repeated advisories for worn tyres, both nearside rear in 2024 and both fronts in 2021. This pattern suggests the previous owner was running tyres down to the legal limit rather than replacing them proactively. A buyer should check the date codes and tread depth on all four tyres and the spare, looking for uneven wear that could indicate tracking or suspension geometry issues. Given the recent mileage surge, the suspension bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers should be inspected for fatigue, particularly at the rear where the parking brake and tyre wear concerns converge.