DVLA verified
MOT valid
Tax valid

2008 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF2.0L DIESEL

SY08 AFJ

Vehicle Insight Summary

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF (2008, DIESEL, 1968cc) — mileage recorded at 118,241. MOT status: valid. Road tax: paid. Check full history before buying.

MOT
Valid
Expires 07/03/2027
Tax
Taxed
Expires 01/03/2027
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£8.99
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Fuel
DIESEL
Year
2008
Engine
1968cc
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The vehicle currently holds a valid MOT, but the history reveals a trend of worsening structural and mechanical degradation. While it passed its most recent test in March 2026 at 118,241 miles, this followed a significant failure just one day prior. The failure report highlighted critical issues including significantly worn front brake discs, a damaged rear brake pipe, and failing suspension components. The recurring presence of corrosion across the suspension arms and sub-frame indicates that the vehicle is reaching a stage where surface rust is becoming a primary concern. The recorded mileage of 118,241 miles over 18 years reflects an average annual usage of approximately 6,500 miles. This low mileage is consistent with a vehicle of this age, suggesting it has not been subjected to high-distance commuting. However, the gap of over 21,000 miles between February 2024 and March 2025 shows a period of more active use which coincides with the rapid progression of mechanical faults, such as the binding brakes and engine management light failures noted in the early 2025 test. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the structural integrity, specifically the inner sills and sub-frame. The records consistently flag corrosion in these areas since 2024, with the 2025 failure noting significantly reduced rigidity in the offside middle sill. Close attention is required regarding the front suspension geometry, as the control arms and ball joints have been flagged for excessive wear and corrosion across multiple tests. The brake system also requires verification, given the history of binding calipers and worn discs, which suggests that maintenance may have been reactive rather than proactive.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

Free vehicle health score

75
/ 100 · Good

Public record health check: Good.

Based on free DVLA & DVSA signals. Premium checks for stolen/finance/write-off history are locked below.

✓ Valid MOT
✓ Taxed
! Average MOT pass rate (60%)
! Older vehicle
A score of 75 doesn't mean it's safe to buy. Private markers don't appear in public data.
Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for SY08AFJ

Data provided by Experian
Stolen
Locked
Finance
Locked
Write-off
Locked
Salvage
Locked
Imported
Locked
Exported
Locked
Scrapped
Locked
Destruction
Locked
V5C Logbook
Locked
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Technical Specifications

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Full MOT History

Live data last synced with DVSA: 4 Jun 2026, 23:54
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The vehicle currently holds a valid MOT, but the history reveals a trend of worsening structural and mechanical degradation. While it passed its most recent test in March 2026 at 118,241 miles, this followed a significant failure just one day prior. The failure report highlighted critical issues including significantly worn front brake discs, a damaged rear brake pipe, and failing suspension components. The recurring presence of corrosion across the suspension arms and sub-frame indicates that the vehicle is reaching a stage where surface rust is becoming a primary concern. The recorded mileage of 118,241 miles over 18 years reflects an average annual usage of approximately 6,500 miles. This low mileage is consistent with a vehicle of this age, suggesting it has not been subjected to high-distance commuting. However, the gap of over 21,000 miles between February 2024 and March 2025 shows a period of more active use which coincides with the rapid progression of mechanical faults, such as the binding brakes and engine management light failures noted in the early 2025 test. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the structural integrity, specifically the inner sills and sub-frame. The records consistently flag corrosion in these areas since 2024, with the 2025 failure noting significantly reduced rigidity in the offside middle sill. Close attention is required regarding the front suspension geometry, as the control arms and ball joints have been flagged for excessive wear and corrosion across multiple tests. The brake system also requires verification, given the history of binding calipers and worn discs, which suggests that maintenance may have been reactive rather than proactive.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

AI Analysis · MOT Narrative

Registered in 2008, this Volkswagen Golf with plate SY08 AFJ has undergone 5 MOT inspections since February 2024.

The vehicle has achieved an overall 60% pass rate, with 3 passes and 2 failures recorded. While not perfect, the history shows a relatively typical pattern of MOT passes and fails.

The most commonly flagged areas across all MOT tests are: Suspension (25 issues), Brakes (14 issues), Bodywork (5 issues), Tyres (3 issues), Lighting (2 issues). These areas are worth paying attention to when inspecting this vehicle.

There are 45 advisory notices in the MOT history. Advisories are not failures but indicate areas that may need attention in the future.

A total of 11 failure items have been recorded across all tests. Recent failure items include: “Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))”; “Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))”; “Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn BOTH (5.3.4 (a) (i))”.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY