2010 Vauxhall Astra 1.7L Diesel · RJ10 AAK

The vehicle presents a marginal roadworthiness status with a maintenance history indicating a reactive repair approach rather than preventative care. The most recent test in July 2025 at 159,644 miles shows a pass following a minor failure for an insecure headlamp and a deteriorated registration plate. However, the persistence of oil misting on both the nearside front and nearside rear shock absorbers indicates that these components are reaching the end of their functional life, a trend that was noted in previous inspections. At 159,644 miles, this 16-year-old Astra has averaged approximately 10,000 miles per year, which aligns with typical UK usage patterns for a family car. The record shows consistent use, with roughly 9,000 miles covered between June 2023 and July 2024 tests, and another 12,300 miles between July 2024 and July 2025. This steady accumulation suggests the vehicle is used regularly, which explains the progressive wear on rubber components like suspension bushes and tyres. A prospective buyer must closely scrutinise the rear suspension assembly, as the July 2024 failure revealed a fractured nearside coil spring and excessively worn trailing arm bushes. While these were addressed to achieve the subsequent pass, the presence of a distorted nearside rear road wheel suggests a past impact that may have affected the wheel alignment. The history of thin brake pads and damaged tyres in the same period further indicates that consumable items are only replaced once they reach a failure threshold. The in-person inspection should focus on the current state of the shock absorbers to determine if the misting has progressed to a full seal failure. Given the previous reports of perishing tyres and inner edge wear, the current depth and condition of all four tyres must be verified for alignment issues. Additionally, a check of the chassis for structural corrosion is essential, as the MOT record does not provide detail on theের integrity of a vehicle of this age and mileage.