2007 Volkswagen Transporter 1.9L Diesel · AP07 MDJ

A pattern of brake and front suspension deterioration has emerged across this Transporter's MOT record, most clearly demonstrated by a Dangerous failure on 14 August 2024 in which the front upper anti-roll bar ball joints on both sides were deemed likely to become detached and the rear inner brake pads were found to be less than 1.5 mm thick. Both items are not only immediate safety concerns but also indicate that braking and chassis components on this vehicle are reaching the end of their functional life. A subsequent pass on the same date, combined with a clean pass on 10 August 2026, suggests the immediate repairs were carried out, but the underlying wear pattern has not gone away. The 2025 test recorded a further advisory for slight play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint, alongside a corroded nearside rear inner brake pipe, a nearside front tyre cut, an offside front inner tyre worn close to the legal limit, and front inner brake disc wear. That accumulation of brake and steering-related advisories, repeated across consecutive tests, points to a vehicle still shedding material from its undercarriage rather than one with a settled, stable mechanical state. At roughly 5,163 miles per year over nineteen years, recorded mileage of 98,094 miles is notably low for a working van of this vintage and points to extended periods of standing or only light domestic use rather than the high annual accumulation typical of commercial Transporter service. The MOT record itself shows reasonably regular annual testing from 2021 through 2026 with no multi-year gaps, so the van does not appear to have been formally off the road for long stretches, which reduces the risk of seized calipers, perished rubber, and stale fuel normally associated with long lay-ups. However, low annual mileage on a vehicle of this age still tends to concentrate wear on corrosion-prone components such as brake lines and underbody metal, which is consistent with the corroded brake pipe flagged in 2025 and the general brake deterioration seen elsewhere in the history. The mileage progression is gradual rather than spiking, suggesting no sudden heavy-use phase that would have overloaded the clutch or transmission. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priorities are the front suspension and braking system. The anti-roll bar ball joint failure on both sides in 2024 is significant, and on a test drive any clonking from the front end over speed humps, catseye strips, or uneven tarmac should be treated as a red flag, as should vague or wandering steering and any tendency for the front end to bottom out. The 2025 advisory for slight play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint is particularly worth monitoring, because component play of that nature tends to progress between MOTs, so a thorough check with the vehicle on a ramp or by manually rocking the wheels is advisable. Steering should feel precise with no shudder through the rim and no knocking when turning at low speed. Brake-related advisories are heavily concentrated in the inner pads and discs on both axles, which on T5-generation Transporters is frequently linked to seized slider mechanisms on the calipers rather than simple pad wear. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or scraping from the wheels, watch for the vehicle pulling to one side under firm braking, and feel for a spongy or excessively long pedal. The corroded nearside rear inner brake pipe noted in 2025 also warrants inspection of the full brake line run, as surface corrosion on one section commonly indicates the rest of the underbody pipework is in similar condition and may need replacement. Finally, verify tyre condition across all four corners including the inner edges, as the record shows repeated advisory wear on inner edges, which can point to suspension geometry issues such as worn wishbone bushes or tracking misalignment rather than simple tyre ageing.