VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER2011 · 2.5L Diesel

The 2011 Volkswagen Crfter presents a stable but ageing mechanical picture, with the most recent MOT on 15 September 2025 passing cleanly at 191,460 miles. The record shows a clear improvement from the failed test on 8 September 2023, where the parking brake was below requirements and a rear tyre was worn to the legal limit. Both issues were rectified before the September 2023 retest, and no further advisories have appeared since. This suggests the previous owner addressed the immediate failures, though the underlying wear patterns that produced them remain a concern for a vehicle of this age and mileage. The mileage accumulation is notably uneven. Between the September 2023 pass at 189,884 miles and the September 2025 pass at 191,460 miles, the vehicle covered just 1,576 miles in roughly two years, averaging under 800 miles annually. This is a sharp drop from the long-term average of approximately 12,764 miles per year. Such a dramatic reduction raises questions about prolonged periods of standing, which can cause its own problems including flat-spotted tyres, seized brake calipers, and fuel system deterioration. Buyers should verify whether the vehicle was genuinely used lightly or sat unused for extended stretches. The 2024 test flagged several suspension and braking advisories that did not appear as failures but warrant close inspection. Both front shock absorbers showed signs of deterioration, with the offside unit misting oil and the nearside dust cover loose. The rear shock absorber casings were corroded, and both inner front brake discs were worn, pitted, or scored. These are not yet critical, but on a 15-year-old commercial vehicle with a history of high annual use, suspension bushings, coil springs, and mounting points should be thoroughly checked for play, corrosion, and structural integrity. The repeated appearance of rear tyre wear on the inner edge across 2023 and 2024 also points to possible tracking or suspension geometry issues that may have persisted. A hands-on inspection should prioritise the rear braking system, given the 2023 parking brake failure, and the condition of all brake discs and pads for uneven wear or corrosion. The windscreen stone chip noted in 2025 is minor but worth monitoring for crack propagation. Given the vehicle's commercial duty cycle and the recent drop in usage, the exhaust system, fuel tank, and underbody should be examined for corrosion, particularly around mounting points and load-bearing areas. The overall record indicates a vehicle that has been kept legal but not necessarily proactively maintained beyond the minimum standard.