VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER1996 · 2.5L DIESEL

The most recent MOT on 2025-08-14 showed the vehicle passed with 170,660 miles, but a prior failure on 2025-08-06 revealed severe corrosion in the chassis near the tow bar mounting on both nearside and offside rear sections. This corrosion was described as “excessive” and “seriously affecting strength,” violating regulation 6.2.2 (d) (i). A separate issue with the offside rear position lamp was also noted. These findings indicate critical structural weaknesses that could compromise safety and require immediate attention. Corrosion has been a recurring issue in this vehicle’s MOT history. The 2024-08-03 MOT recorded “integral body structure corroded” but noted “structural rigidity not significantly reduced.” By 2021-03-04, minor corrosion was present near chassis mountings, though described as “not seriously affecting overall security.” The 2025 failure highlights a clear worsening of this trend, with corrosion now posing a structural risk. While the 2025-08-14 pass suggests repairs were made, the proximity of the failure to the subsequent pass raises questions about the durability of any fixes. The vehicle’s mileage of 170,660 miles for a 30-year-old car equates to roughly 5,689 miles per year, which is low for its age. This could indicate infrequent use or prolonged periods of inactivity, both of which can accelerate corrosion in untreated or poorly maintained vehicles. However, the low mileage also suggests that major wear on components like brakes, suspension, or the drivetrain may be less pronounced than in higher-mileage vehicles.