2011 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L Diesel · DP11 NHT

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history shows a worsening trend regarding the suspension system. While it passed its latest test in February 2026 at 133,903 miles, it failed just one day prior due to serious fluid leaks and incorrect indicator colours. The transition of the offside rear shock absorber from a light misting in 2025 to a serious leak in 2026 indicates a progressive component failure that was allowed to the end of its life rather than being addressed during the previous year. The mileage pattern is consistent with a well-used vehicle of this age, averaging approximately 9,000 miles per year. Between January 2024 and February 2026, the car covered 17,320 miles, representing a slight increase in usage compared to the historical annual average. This consistent mileage explains the accelerated wear on rubber components and damping units. The clean record from the 2024 test at 116,583 miles suggests a period of good upkeep, but the recent failures highlight that the vehicle now requires age-related repairs. A buyer must physically inspect the rear trailing arm bushes, as these were flagged for cracking and deterioration in the February 2026 test. Although the tester did not find excessive movement at that time, the degradation on both sides suggests imminent failure and potential handling instability. The offside front and rear shock absorbers have clearly been replaced following the serious leak, but the nearside rear still shows misting and should be monitored for further weeping. Ensure that the rear direction indicators have been replaced with the correct colour to rectify the recent failure.