2014 Hyundai IX35 1.7L Diesel · YS64 KNP

A pattern of developing corrosion on the rear suspension arms and front brake pipework defines the mechanical profile of this Hyundai ix35, with the latest MOT on 12 December 2025 flagging corrosion on both rear suspension arms and on three separate brake pipe sections. The first advisory for the nearside rear suspension arm was recorded in December 2024, with the offside arm added a year later, indicating progressive surface corrosion that has not yet compromised structural integrity but is clearly advancing year on year. The brake pipe advisories are new as of the 2025 test, with surface corrosion noted on the nearside and offside front pipes and the nearside rear pipe, all currently masked by grease or similar material. A single Major failure was recorded on 17 December 2020 for an inoperative nearside rear parking brake with very low effort at 50 kg and overall parking brake efficiency below requirements, although the vehicle subsequently passed without recurrence on the following day and across the next five annual tests, suggesting the parking brake issue was rectified at the time. With 92,778 miles recorded against a 2014 registration, this ix35 has averaged roughly 7,700 miles per year over twelve years, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a vehicle of this age. The MOT record is annual and continuous from 2019 through 2025 with no gaps, indicating the car has remained in regular use rather than laid up for extended periods. The mileage itself is moderate rather than high, so while wear items such as suspension bushes, brake components and pipework corrosion are progressing as expected for a twelve year old car, the drivetrain and major mechanical assemblies have not been subjected to extreme mileage accumulation. The recurring rear suspension advisories warrant close physical inspection before purchase. The trailing arm pins or bushes were flagged with slight wear in 2024, with the nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint also showing slight play in the 2023 test. On a road test, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed humps and potholes, and pay attention to any vagueness or rattling from the rear end during direction changes. With the vehicle raised, the rear trailing arm bushes should be physically probed for any free play beyond what the 2024 advisory described as not resulting in excessive movement, as corrosion noted on the arms themselves can accelerate bush degradation. Any worsening since the 2025 test would likely push these into a failure category. The brake pipe corrosion noted across three locations is the most significant forward-looking concern, as surface corrosion on unprotected steel brake lines can advance to pitting and ultimately leakage under hydraulic pressure. During a test drive, the brake pedal should feel firm and consistent with no sponginess or excessive travel, and any pull to one side under heavy braking would indicate uneven caliper or hydraulic performance. The 2024 advisory for the nearside front service brake binding slightly should also be monitored by checking for a hot wheel or smell from the front nearside hub after driving, and by confirming the vehicle rolls freely when released with the handbrake off. Given the 2020 failure of the parking brake on one side, it is worth confirming on a hill start that the parking brake now holds firmly against reverse on an incline, as a repeat of low parking brake effort would render the vehicle unroadworthy at the next test.