2022 Dacia Duster 1.5L Diesel · X88 KAP

The 2022 Dacia Duster presents a largely reassuring picture on its most recent DVSA MOT undertaken on 11 June 2026, which resulted in a clean pass with no defects or mechanical advisories recorded against the vehicle. The only entry noted was an administrative advisory concerning items removed from the driver's view prior to test, which is non-mechanical and relates purely to test preparation rather than any underlying component condition. Looking back to the previous test on 18 June 2025, the vehicle again passed without any failures, though a notable advisory was issued for the offside front tyre being worn close to the legal limit and worn on its edge, with a recorded tread depth of 2.0mm against a legal minimum of 1.6mm. The absence of any repeat advisories relating to suspension geometry, brake condition, or structural corrosion across two consecutive tests suggests the maintenance trend is stable rather than worsening, and there is no evidence of progressive deterioration in any specific area of the vehicle's roadworthiness. With recorded mileage of 37,127 miles over a four-year period, this Duster is accumulating roughly 9,282 miles annually, which sits comfortably within the typical usage band for a vehicle of its age and class. There are no obvious gaps or unusual step changes in the recorded mileage that would suggest long periods of standing followed by sudden heavy use, nor is there any indication of exceptionally high mileage that would disproportionately accelerate wear on mechanical components such as clutches, drivetrain mountings, or suspension consumables. This average usage pattern is generally favourable from a mechanical longevity standpoint, as it typically allows consumables to be replaced at sensible intervals without premature fatigue of major assemblies. For a prospective buyer, the key area of historical interest is the offside front tyre advisory from the 2025 test. While the advisory alone is not a failure, an outer-edge wear pattern of the type described is frequently symptomatic of an underlying steering or suspension geometry issue, such as worn or perished front suspension bushes, a tired or weakened coil spring, an ageing top mount, or a slight misalignment of the offside front wheel. On a test drive, it would be prudent to listen for any clonking or knocking from the front suspension over uneven road surfaces, particularly when traversing speed bumps or potholes, and to feel for any vagueness or wandering in the steering. Uneven or inner-edge wear on the current nearside or offside front tyres would also suggest the geometry problem persists and warrants inspection by a technician, with a four-wheel alignment check and physical inspection of the front suspension components being strongly recommended before purchase. Given the moderate annual mileage and the vehicle's four-year age, several age-related but mileage-light items deserve careful physical inspection regardless of the clean MOT record. Tyres fitted for some time should be examined for sidewall perishing or cracking, as rubber compounds degrade with age even when tread depth remains adequate. Brake discs, particularly the rear units if the vehicle is fitted with rear drum brakes or solid discs, may exhibit corrosion or binding caliper behaviour from intermittent use, so the car should be rolled on a level surface with the handbrake released to confirm the rear wheels rotate freely. The 12V battery should be checked for hold-state and terminal condition, particularly if the vehicle has stood for extended periods. Finally, verify the timing of time-based services independent of mileage, including brake fluid replacement (typically every two years regardless of mileage due to its hygroscopic nature), coolant renewal, and confirmation of cambelt or chain service intervals in line with Dacia's published schedule, as these calendar-based items do not appear on the MOT record but remain essential to the vehicle's long-term mechanical integrity.