2017 Volkswagen Golf 1.4L Petrol · BF 5432

The vehicle remains roadworthy, but the maintenance history shows a worsening trend regarding suspension-related components. The most recent test in September 2025 at 26,397 miles identified splitting rear bushes on both front lower suspension arms and light oil misting on the nearside front shock absorber. This follows a recurring failure in the September 2024 test at 23,042 miles where the same suspension arm bushes were flagged. While the vehicle passed these tests, the degradation of rubber components is accelerating. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a nine-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 2,933 miles per year. There is a clean record from September 2022 at 12,646 miles with no defects noted. However, the low usage appears to correlate with age-related wear and neglect seen in later advisories. The September 2023 test at 17,676 miles flagged four separate tyres for perishing and cracking in the tread grooves, which often occurs when a vehicle sits stationary for long periods causing the rubber to dry out and fail despite having low tread depth. A buyer must physically inspect the front suspension to ensure the worn arm bushes have been replaced, as they have appeared across three consecutive years. The misting nearside front shock absorber requires close monitoring for a seal failure that will eventually lead to a leak and failure. Given the history of perishing tyres and uneven wear in 2023, the current tyre set should be checked for sidewall cracking and proper alignment to ensure the low mileage has not masked structural degradation of the rubber components.