2001 Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0L Petrol · Y612 BBC

The vehicle presents a history of tyre wear issues and a specific suspension component wear, culminating in a dangerous failure just days prior to the most recent test. On September 26, 2025, the vehicle passed its MOT, but the record reveals a dangerous defect on September 22 where the nearside rear tyre tread depth was below the legal 1.6mm requirement. This follows a pattern of tyre wear advisories dating back to 2023, where both front tyres were recorded as worn close to the legal limit or on the edge, suggesting alignment or suspension geometry issues that have persisted despite passing subsequent tests. The recorded mileage of 91,573 miles over approximately 25 years indicates a very low annual accumulation rate of roughly 3,663 miles, which points to light usage or prolonged periods of inactivity. The testing history reveals a significant gap between September 2019 and September 2020, suggesting the vehicle may have been off the road for a substantial duration. While low mileage typically reduces mechanical wear on major components, the consistent advisories regarding tyre edge wear and the specific suspension defect highlight that the vehicle has not been subjected to gentle, consistent driving conditions, but rather usage that has stressed specific components over time. Given the advisory for slight play in the nearside front track rod end ball joint recorded in September 2024, a thorough inspection of the steering linkage is required. During the test drive, the steering should be checked for any looseness or "play" in the wheel when the car is stationary, and the driver should listen for any clunking noises when turning the steering wheel at low speeds. Additionally, the tyre wear pattern indicates potential alignment issues; inspect the tread blocks on all four tyres to ensure they are wearing evenly across the width rather than being cupped or feathered on the edges, as this suggests the wheel alignment may be out of specification. The dangerous failure recorded on September 22, 2025, specifically regarding the nearside rear tyre tread depth, is a critical anomaly given the vehicle passed four days later with no defects. This discrepancy suggests the rear tyre may have been replaced or repaired between the two tests, which raises questions about the overall condition of the remaining tyres and the vehicle's readiness for immediate road use. Prospective buyers should verify the condition of all four tyres immediately, as the history of edge wear indicates a susceptibility to rapid degradation, and ensure the replacement tyre matches the specification and condition of the others to prevent uneven wear patterns from redeveloping.