2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L Diesel · DN62 LHC

The vehicle presents a mixed mechanical picture as of its most recent MOT on 25 February 2026 at 159,616 miles. The pass is valid and current, but the advisory pattern is not resolving. Two recurring suspension faults, worn front lower arm rear bushes on both sides and a light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber, have now appeared in three consecutive tests, most recently on 25 February 2026 and previously on 28 March 2025 and 26 March 2025. This is a stable but persistent condition rather than a sudden failure, suggesting gradual wear that has been monitored rather than rectified. The tester also flagged a nearside rear service brake binding, albeit not excessively, and both front tyres worn close to the legal limit on the test date. These are immediate consumable items requiring attention. The mileage accumulation is consistent with typical use for a 2012 Golf of this age. The vehicle covered roughly 10,215 miles between the March 2024 test at 139,482 miles and the March 2025 test at 149,401 miles, then recorded no further mileage between the failed test on 26 March 2025 and the pass on 28 March 2025, indicating the same mileage was retested after repairs. From 28 March 2025 to 25 February 2026, the odometer moved from 149,401 to 159,616 miles, a gain of 10,215 miles in just under eleven months. That is a slightly higher annualised rate than the lifetime average of approximately 11,401 miles per year, pointing to a period of heavier recent use. No significant gaps appear in the record, and the annual testing pattern is regular. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and braking system. The repeated identification of worn lower arm rear bushes on both sides, combined with a fractured offside rear coil spring noted in the 26 March 2025 failure, raises questions about the condition of the full suspension mounting points and whether the spring was replaced or merely rechecked. The offside rear shock absorber oil misting has persisted across multiple tests without a recorded replacement, so the damper's remaining service life is uncertain. The binding nearside rear brake and the front tyre wear observed in February 2026 suggest the braking system should be inspected for sticking calipers or seized guide pins, and the tyre sizes and pressures verified against specification. Given the vehicle's age and mileage, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion, particularly around suspension mounting points and the subframe, is advisable before purchase.