2014 Volkswagen Caddy 1.6L Diesel · CU64 WVR

A persistent pattern of front suspension wear is the defining mechanical characteristic of this Volkswagen Caddy, with lower arm pin or bush deterioration flagged across three consecutive annual tests and ultimately resulting in a failure in July 2025 when both sides were recorded as excessively worn. The same test that produced those Major defects also identified a rear brake imbalance across axle two, a service brake lagging in operation on the nearside rear, and front tyres worn on their inner edges, suggesting the braking and chassis systems reached a notably worn state together. The 2026-01-16 pass is therefore positive in the short term, but it sits directly above a significant cluster of suspension and brake defects that any prospective buyer should treat as the most relevant aspect of the vehicle's mechanical history. A second area of recurring concern is the braking system more broadly, with front brake pads measured at less than 1.5 mm and recorded as Dangerous in June 2021, alongside advisories for worn front and rear brake discs and thin rear pads at the same test. The rear discs and pads were flagged again the following year, indicating that the braking components on this Caddy have been under active wear throughout the recorded history rather than presenting as a one-off replacement event. Against a twelve-year vehicle age, 89,985 miles equates to an average accumulation of roughly 7,500 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a light commercial vehicle of this type. The MOT record shows testing on an almost annual cadence with no extended lay-up gaps of multiple consecutive years, meaning the mileage progression has been reasonably consistent and the components flagged have been exposed to regular road use rather than the particular risks associated with long periods of standing. That said, a vehicle in normal commercial use will typically accumulate wear on suspension, braking and underbody components at a rate consistent with what is shown here, and the recurring advisories on lower arm bushes, anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers, rear subframe corrosion, and rear shock absorber casings all align with the expected wear pattern for a Caddy of this age and mileage. For a prospective buyer, the front lower suspension arms and their pins or bushes should be the primary focus of any physical inspection and test drive, as these have been the only components to escalate from advisory to Major failure status in the record. On the road, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over speed humps, uneven tarmac, and potholes, and pay particular attention to any vagueness or rattle through the steering when turning at low speed, as worn lower arm pins can introduce significant play. A bouncy or unsettled ride over undulating surfaces, combined with a reluctance of the rear to settle quickly, would be consistent with the corroded rear shock absorbers flagged in 2023, while any rear brake pull or judder under light application would warrant further investigation given the 2025 imbalance and lagging brake findings. The inner-edge wear noted on the front tyres in 2024 and 2025 is a common symptom of suspension geometry disturbance and should be rechecked on the current set of tyres, as renewed uneven wear would imply the underlying geometry issue has not been resolved. Underneath the vehicle, the rear subframe corrosion advisory from 2023 should be physically inspected for progression, particularly around mounting points and any brake or fuel line runs in the vicinity, as corrosion classified as not seriously weakened at one test can deteriorate to a structural concern by the next if left untreated. The rear brake discs, previously recorded as pitted or scored, should be checked for lipping, run-out, and pulsing under firm pedal application, while the front discs warrant similar attention given their earlier advisory state. On start-up from cold, listen for any clonking or scraping from the front brakes as the calipers first apply, as this can indicate binding or seized slider mechanisms that often accompany the disc wear pattern shown. Finally, confirm the condition and authenticity of the current front tyres, ensuring they are wearing evenly across the tread rather than repeating the inner-edge wear pattern, as this will be the clearest available indicator of whether the suspension and geometry concerns highlighted throughout the MOT history have been fully resolved.