2014 Dacia Sandero 1.5L Diesel · YR14 FCE

The Dacia Sandero holds a valid MOT issued on 14 May 2026 at 153,574 miles, passing with only minor tyre wear advisories on both front tyres. The maintenance trend over the last three years is broadly stable, though it reveals a pattern of deferred minor wear items rather than a serious mechanical decline. The January 2024 test at 111,717 miles recorded a failure for excessive play in the offside front track rod end ball joint, inadequate parking brake effort, and worn front tyres, yet the subsequent January 2024 retest at 111,983 miles passed with only tyre wear flagged. This suggests the track rod end and parking brake issues were addressed promptly, but the recurring front tyre wear advisories in both 2024 and 2026 point to persistent alignment or suspension geometry concerns that have not been fully resolved. The vehicle has covered 153,574 miles over roughly twelve years, averaging approximately 12,798 miles per year, which is high for its age. The mileage progression shows a notable gap between the January 2023 test at 93,692 miles and the January 2024 failure at 111,717 miles, representing 18,025 miles in twelve months. The annualised rate then slowed to 16,043 miles between January 2024 and February 2025, before dropping sharply to 16,043 miles over the subsequent fifteen months to the May 2026 test. The most recent interval suggests either lighter use or a period of reduced activity, which can itself introduce risks such as deteriorated rubber components, stale fuel, or brake surface corrosion from prolonged standing. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering components. The 2025 advisory regarding a severely deteriorated offside front lower suspension arm ball joint dust cover indicates the joint itself may be compromised, allowing ingress of water and grit that accelerates wear. Combined with the January 2024 failure for excessive play in the track rod end, this points to a front end that has endured sustained stress and may require renewed steering and suspension components. The front tyres wearing on the edges in both 2024 and 2026, despite the vehicle being in use, strongly suggests toe misalignment or worn suspension bushes that are not maintaining correct geometry under load. The braking system also warrants close examination. The January 2024 failure recorded insufficient reserve travel on the brake lever and inadequate effort at the nearside rear parking brake, indicating either a stretched cable, seized mechanism, or worn rear brake components. Although the retest passed, the parking brake on a single-line system is inherently vulnerable to cable stretch and adjuster neglect. A buyer should test the handbrake on a steep incline and check for free movement at the rear calipers or drums. At this mileage, the exhaust system, coil springs, and subframe mounting points should also be inspected for corrosion, particularly if the vehicle has seen sustained high-mileage use on salted roads.