MOT Failure, anything to be concerned about?

darren_5

Hi all,

I'm possibly going to buy a Hyundai ix35 tomorrow, it had its MOT today (Hyundai dealership) and failed on:

offside rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)
offside rear upper Suspension arm insecure (2.4.G.1)

Is this anything to be worried about, they will obviously fix these but do either of these fails signify a bigger problem?

Many thanks,
Darren

bigjl

Cars break.

The previous owner likely traded it in because they knew about the issue.

As long as you ensure the issue is fixed why worry about it.

Probably caused by a pothole of speed bump.

AdrianC

darren_5 wrote: »

I'm possibly going to buy a Hyundai ix35 tomorrow, it had its MOT today (Hyundai dealership) and failed on:

offside rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)
offside rear upper Suspension arm insecure (2.4.G.1)

Is this anything to be worried about, they will obviously fix these but do either of these fails signify a bigger problem?

Not necessarily.

The damper itself has failed - no issue, put a new one on, ideally a pair. It may be road debris damage, it may just be a faulty damper.

The "insecure" suspension arm could be anything from a loose bolt to impact damage to the mounting to the subframe. You really need to find more out.

A quick google finds this as, apparently, the ix35's rear suspension layout.


It should be simple enough to get your head under the car and see if you can spot what the problem is or was. If they're reluctant to give more info, and just try to gloss it all over, then the simple answer is that there are plenty of other similar cars out there.

daveyjp

Unless its the only ix35 for sale in the Country find another if you have any doubts.

Has it been owned by someone who actually took it off road on a regular basis?

darren_5

ok. it still has warranty for the next year so i should hopefully be ok. i was just trying to guage if this would be anuthing to stay clear from.

Owned by a lady for the last 2 years, wouldnt know about off road but doubt it, its 2 wheel drive.

darren_5

Ive been checking other similar ix35 mot history on https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history This issue hasnt occured anywhere else, maybe because its been fixed in the service, but the car im looking at the service isnt due until january.

It's a Hyundai garage so i'm assuming they would be diligent with their checks.

Strider590

darren_5 wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm possibly going to buy a Hyundai ix35 tomorrow, it had its MOT today (Hyundai dealership) and failed on:

offside rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)
offside rear upper Suspension arm insecure (2.4.G.1)

Is this anything to be worried about, they will obviously fix these but do either of these fails signify a bigger problem?

Many thanks,
Darren

I'd be very surprised if there was any fluid in those shocks, they're almost all gas shocks these days.

bigjl

darren_5 wrote: »

Ive been checking other similar ix35 mot history on https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history This issue hasnt occured anywhere else, maybe because its been fixed in the service, but the car im looking at the service isnt due until january.

It's a Hyundai garage so i'm assuming they would be diligent with their checks.

Indeed.

Some MOT garages might not even have bothered to report it, even as an advisory.

Joe_Horner

Strider590 wrote: »

I'd be very surprised if there was any fluid in those shocks, they're almost all gas shocks these days.

Gas shocks also contain oil as the actual damping medium - the (high pressure) gas is there to allow for the volume changes caused by the piston rod without allowing the oil to foam - as used to happen in atmospheric pressure twin-tubes if you worked them hard.

Not a problem on the shock as far as the fail's concerned. The manual only allows a fail for a "serious" leak so it just means it's more than a light misting, not that it's dumped its entire contents as the phrase might suggest.

The arm could be anything from a poorly chosen RFR for a worn bush to a bolt that's about to drop out because the last guy who undid it didn't do it up again. In any case, if it's repaired so it passes the MOT then it'll be fine.

darren_5

So im not too worried about the struts - as it seems this is easily replaced.

The other fail was "offside rear upper Suspension arm insecure"

Could this meana dodgy suspension? Or is that unlikely? Or could it just be a tightening or a bolt? This is with a main dealer so im hoping they would just resolve it so it doesnt cause future problems?

Paying around 9k for this car, 2012 with 50k on clock so want to make sure its reliable for my family.

Joe_Horner

It means the suspension is "dodgy" right up to the point where they fix it. In main dealer terms that'll mean replacing the arm if needed. A lot (if not all mainstream) manufacturers don't supply bushes because it simplifies things to just replace an arm. And a main dealer wuth a £9k car won't be heading to the local auto factors for aftermarket bushes!