2004 Vauxhall Astra 1.7L Diesel · KC54 AGU

The 2004 Vauxhall Astra shows a history of recurring mechanical issues, particularly concentrated around the braking system. The most recent test in June 2026 at 165,548 miles indicates the vehicle passed but raised new concerns regarding a reduced nearside front position lamp and a drag on the offside front brake. This follows a failure in March 2025 where the car was flagged for excessively binding brakes, corroded brake pipes, and poor parking brake efficiency. While the immediate component failures were rectified, the persistence of a dragging brake in the subsequent test suggests that the underlying caliper issue or pipe-related wear has not been fully addressed. At 165,548 miles over 22 years, the vehicle has maintained a consistent average of approximately 7,500 miles per year. The records reveal a period of relative stability between 2022 and 2023, where the car passed with no defects at 133,735 miles. However, the more recent data shows a trend of age-related degradation, including fractured offside rear coil springs and multiple seat belt failures. The recurring appearance of perishing tyres across multiple tests from 2023 to 2025 indicates that basic consumable maintenance is only performed when necessitated by inspection failures. Structural and corrosion-related issues are evident throughout the vehicle's history. The tester frequently noted corrosion on the rear brake pipes and the offside front brake pipe dating back to 2021. Additionally, the presence of a corroded back box and coolant leaks in earlier tests suggests the underbody is susceptible to rust, which is common for a vehicle of this age and mileage. A buyer should closely inspect the chassis for advanced structural rot and verify the integrity of the brake lines, as the record shows these areas are prone to significant corrosion on this specific example.