2015 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6L Diesel · CP64 FUD

A consistent theme of front-end suspension and brake wear runs through this Vivaro's MOT record, with two of the four documented tests resulting in failures driven by exactly that area of the car. The most recent test on 25 November 2025 is particularly telling: although a pass certificate was issued on the same date, the same inspection simultaneously recorded Major defects for a seriously weakened front anti-roll bar linkage on both sides and an offside front upper shock absorber that no longer functions correctly at its mount, alongside an advisory for slight play in the offside front track rod end ball joint. Major shock absorber mount and anti-roll bar failures of this nature cannot be classed as borderline wear; they indicate components that have either fatigued or been subjected to sustained heavy loading, both common on vans of this weight class operating at commercial-mileage accumulation rates. Earlier in 2023 a similar but more acute episode occurred, with the offside front coil spring fracturing, the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint being excessively worn, and both front and rear brake pads being recorded as dangerously below the 1.5 mm minimum. Across the four-year MOT window the only isolated non-suspension item has been a minor windscreen chip in 2023 and a nearside front tyre worn on edge in 2024, so the advisory and failure footprint is concentrated almost entirely on the front axle and braking system. Recorded mileage of 121,574 miles over an 11-year life equates to an annual average of roughly 11,050 miles, which sits comfortably within the typical band for a vehicle of this age and type. There are no unexplained gaps in the testing record; tests are present for 2023, 2024 and 2025, and the mileage progression between entries is consistent with steady working use rather than periods off the road or sudden high-mileage accumulation. Mechanically, an annual rate around this level is the kind of mileage that genuinely works consumables such as brake pads, discs, coil springs, dampers and anti-roll bar linkages, and the failure pattern observed here reflects precisely those components reaching the end of their functional life rather than any anomaly in how the vehicle has been used. For a prospective buyer, the priority checks on a test drive should centre on the front suspension geometry and the steering system, since three of the four major defects and the most recent advisory all sit within the front axle. Listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would suggest the new anti-roll bar linkages or shock absorber mount have not been renewed to a satisfactory standard or have failed again. With the offside front track rod end flagged for slight play, any vagueness, wander or inconsistency in the steering on a straight road, or a shimmy through the wheel under braking, should be treated as a red flag. Pay particular attention to the ride quality: a fractured coil spring was recorded in 2023 and a failed shock absorber mount in 2025, so any harshness, bottoming out over bumps, or a visibly low or uneven front corner on inspection would warrant further investigation. The offside front lower arm ball joint was also excessively worn in 2023, so check the offside front tyre for uneven inner-edge wear, which is the classic symptom of a worn ball joint or bush allowing camber to drift. The braking system should be evaluated with equal care, given that front and rear pads were simultaneously recorded as dangerous in 2023. On a test drive, any grinding noise, a brake pedal that requires pumping or travels further than expected, or visible scoring or lipping on the edge of the front brake discs when viewed through the wheel would suggest the brake refurbishment after the 2023 failure may not have been thorough. Because the same inspection that issued a pass in November 2025 also recorded Major defects, it is essential to obtain documentary evidence, ideally an itemised invoice, confirming that the anti-roll bar linkages, the offside front upper shock absorber mount and the track rod end have all been replaced with new, compliant components since that date, and that the work was not simply deferred. Until that evidence is provided, the roadworthiness picture for this Vivaro cannot be considered resolved.