2000 Volkswagen Transporter 1.9L Diesel · W802 DGE

This 2000 Volkswagen Transporter currently sits in an unroadworthy state, having failed its most recent MOT on 10 June 2026 at 129,428 miles. The maintenance trend is clearly worsening. A split offside front CV boot and a non-functional horn caused the failure, but these sit against a backdrop of recurring mechanical neglect. The vehicle has failed three of its last four MOT attempts, with faults spanning steering, suspension, braking, and drivetrain components. This pattern suggests a vehicle that has been run to failure rather than maintained proactively. The recorded mileage of 129,428 over approximately 26 years averages just under 5,000 miles per year, which is notably low for a working van. The MOT record shows a gap of nearly 18 months between the April 2024 pass and the April 2025 test, during which the van covered only 3,801 miles. The subsequent jump to 129,428 miles by June 2026 indicates a sudden increase in use after a prolonged period of light running or standing. Low annual mileage can mask deterioration caused by age-related corrosion and perished rubber components rather than wear alone. A buyer should treat the front suspension and steering with particular suspicion. The April 2025 failure flagged an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, and the April 2024 test noted play in the offside steering rack inner joint. These are not consumable items; their presence on the record points to deferred maintenance. The rear brake load sensing valve was flagged as stiff in both 2024 tests, and the nearside rear service brake was binding in April 2025. Brake hardware on older Transporters is a known weak point, and a binding caliper or seized load valve can cause uneven braking, overheating, and premature disc wear. The drivetrain tells a similar story of neglect. CV boot failures have appeared repeatedly on both sides, first noted as severely deteriorated in April 2025 and then as split and insecure on the offside in June 2026. Once a boot fails, contamination enters the joint, and a replacement boot alone will not remedy damage already done to the joint itself. A thorough inspection should check for clicking on full lock and play in the driveshafts. The persistent oil leak noted in 2024 and the leaking power steering pipe from the same period also warrant close examination, as fluid leaks on a vehicle of this age often indicate perished hoses and corroded pipework rather than a single isolated fault.