2008 Volkswagen Crafter 2.5L Diesel · AD57 NJK

The Volkswagen Crafter failed its most recent MOT on 7 April 2026 at 169,097 miles, leaving it currently unroadworthy with no defects logged by the tester. Prior to this, the van held a clean pass each year from May 2023 through April 2025, so the maintenance trend reads as stable until the sudden failure at the latest test. The absence of recorded advisories across that span suggests either light mechanical wear or minimal tester scrutiny rather than confirmed component health. Annual mileage sits at roughly 9,400 miles, typical for an 18-year-old 2008 panel van. The records show only 314 miles added between the May 2023 failure at 167,083 and the May 2024 pass at 168,083, then just 685 miles to April 2025 and a mere 329 miles to the April 2026 failure. Such low yearly use points to a vehicle kept largely standing, which raises the risk of perished seals, flat-spotted tyres, and corrosion on brake discs and structural members from inactivity. The two May 2023 tests, failing then passing nine days later at near-identical mileage, imply a rectified fault that the DVSA entry does not specify. A buyer should physically confirm the repair quality from that episode and establish why the April 2026 test failed with no defect noted, as this often signals a documentation error or an abandoned retest. Given the age and dormancy, inspect suspension bushes, coil springs, brake calipers for binding, and underbody structural integrity for rust before purchase. In person, verify the true condition of exhaust emissions, tyre tread depth, and wiper operation despite the clean advisory history. The sparse record offers little evidence of neglect but equally little proof of proactive care, so a pre-purchase mechanical inspection remains essential on this high-mileage Crafter.