2021 KIA Niro 4 + EV Electricity · YT71 FFN

The most recent MOT, conducted on 20 October 2025 at 51,195 miles, passed, but the record reveals a maintenance trend that is borderline rather than reassuring. The tester flagged worn and pitted front and rear brake discs alongside rear tyres worn to the legal limit, indicating that braking components and tyres are being consumed at a rate that leaves little margin before failure. A year earlier, on 14 October 2024 at 28,008 miles, the vehicle failed outright because a rear brake disc was badly rusted and seriously weakened on both faces. That defect was rectified before the pass on 21 October 2024, yet by the following October the front discs were again pitted and scored. This pattern suggests the braking system has suffered from intermittent neglect or prolonged standing, with corrosion recurring between tests rather than being permanently resolved. The overall picture is one of consumable wear repeatedly approaching or breaching acceptable limits, not a vehicle that has been proactively maintained. Mileage accumulation is broadly typical for a 2021 battery-electric model, averaging roughly 10,200 miles per year over five years. The jump from 28,175 miles in October 2024 to 51,195 miles by October 2025 represents an addition of 23,020 miles in a single year, a sharp increase compared with the prior period. That sudden acceleration in use could explain the accelerated brake and tyre wear observed at the latest test, particularly if the vehicle transitioned from light local use to sustained motorway or high-mileage commuting. No gaps appear in the MOT record itself, but the sparse testing frequency, only one valid test per year, limits visibility into how quickly defects developed between inspections. A buyer should prioritise a close inspection of the braking system before committing. The repeated advisories on scored and pitted discs, combined with the earlier serious rust failure, point to a history of moisture ingress or standing corrosion rather than simple wear. Request a thickness measurement of all four discs and check the calipers for binding, a common cause of uneven disc scoring on EVs where regenerative braking reduces mechanical use and allows surface rust to accumulate. The rear tyres have been flagged as worn to the legal limit at two consecutive annual tests, suggesting alignment or suspension bush wear is unevenly loading the rear axle. Inspect the rear suspension bushes, coil springs, and toe and camber settings, and verify whether the tyre wear is inner-edge, outer-edge, or both. Given the EV powertrain, also assess the charging port, high-voltage cable insulation, and battery housing for any signs of impact damage or water ingress, none of which appear in the MOT record but are critical to long-term structural integrity on this model.