2021 Vauxhall Combo 1.5L Diesel · BT21 FGA

The 2021 Vauxhall Combo presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 6 February 2026 at 67,576 miles passed, but the tester flagged multiple front brake advisories, including thin pads and worn, pitted discs, plus a fluctuating service brake reading. This is a notable deterioration from the clean pass recorded on 4 February 2025 at 60,314 miles. The trend is worsening. Brake components that were entirely defect-free a year ago have now accumulated significant wear and surface damage, suggesting the vehicle has been driven hard or serviced infrequently in the interim. The mileage accumulation is high for a five-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 13,515 miles annually. The jump from 60,314 miles in February 2025 to 67,576 miles by February 2026 represents 7,262 miles in just twelve months, a sharp increase compared to the earlier pattern of around 11,568 miles per year between March 2024 and February 2025. This accelerated use places greater stress on consumable components, particularly brakes, tyres, and suspension bushes, and the MOT record confirms that wear is now manifesting at the front axle. The recurring theme across the history is front brake wear. Advisories for thin pads appeared in March 2024 at 48,746 miles, then vanished in 2025, only to return in 2026 alongside disc wear and a fluctuation fault. A fluctuating service brake reading can indicate warped discs, a sticking caliper, or air in the hydraulic system. A buyer should have a technician measure disc thickness and runout, inspect the caliper slides and pistons for binding, and check the condition of the flexible brake hoses. The rear brakes, flagged for thin pads in 2024, were not mentioned in 2026, which is positive, but their current state still warrants a physical check given the mileage. Beyond the braking system, the high annual mileage and commercial nature of the Combo demand a thorough underbody inspection. A buyer should examine the suspension for worn drop links, deteriorated bushes, and weakened coil springs, all of which degrade faster under sustained load. The exhaust system and DPF should be assessed for efficiency, particularly if the vehicle has been used for short urban trips despite its high total mileage. Structural corrosion on the chassis, sills, and around mounting points is a critical check, as commercial vans often endure harsh working lives. The MOT record alone cannot confirm the integrity of these hidden areas.