2021 Volkswagen Golf Life TSI 1.5L Petrol · CF70 AOB

The vehicle currently holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 13 March 2026 at 57,026 miles, following a same-day retest after an initial failure for insufficient windscreen washer fluid. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but shows a recurring pattern of minor suspension advisories that warrants attention. The most recent advisory, a light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber, is a repeat of the same defect noted in the earlier pass on the same date, indicating the issue was flagged but not rectified before the retest. This is not a failure, but it is a progressive wear item that should be monitored. The mileage progression is consistent and unremarkable for a five-year-old vehicle. The car covered roughly 16,332 miles between the January 2024 test at 27,740 miles and the March 2025 test at 44,072 miles, then added another 12,954 miles by the March 2026 test at 57,026 miles. This equates to approximately 11,400 miles per year, which sits squarely within normal annual usage for a Golf of this type. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer record, and the MOT schedule itself is well maintained with no missed annual tests visible in the provided history. The recurring theme across multiple tests is shock absorber oil misting, appearing on the nearside front in March 2025 and the offside rear in March 2026. Oil misting indicates the damper seals are beginning to weep, which can progress to reduced damping performance and uneven tyre wear if left unaddressed. A prospective buyer should have both front and rear shock absorbers inspected for play, bounce test performance, and any visible oil contamination. The March 2025 advisory regarding cracking or perishing rear tyres also suggests the car may have spent extended periods stationary or been fitted with aged rubber, so a thorough check of all four tyres for sidewall condition, date codes, and tread depth is advisable. The windscreen washer fault from the initial March 2026 failure appears to have been a simple top-up issue, but the washer system, including jets and fluid lines, should be tested to confirm proper operation. Overall, the car presents as a regularly used, sensibly maintained vehicle with no structural or safety-critical defects, though the suspension advisories point to components approaching the end of their optimal service life.