2011 Vauxhall Astra 1.7L Diesel · DS60 HYM

The 2011 Vauxhall Astra passed its most recent MOT on 3 November 2025 at 157,339 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is stable rather than improving. The tester flagged five advisories, including a faded rear number plate, a defective nearside rear reflector, both front wiper blades in poor condition, a minor rear exhaust leak, and front tyres worn on their inner edges. These are mostly minor consumable issues, yet the inner-edge tyre wear points to possible tracking or suspension geometry drift that has not been corrected. The car has passed every test since 2022, so outright failures have stopped, but the volume of advisories in the latest test suggests routine upkeep has been superficial rather than thorough. The mileage progression is consistent with typical use for a fifteen-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 10,489 miles per year. The 2022 test recorded 152,672 miles, and the 2025 test sits at 157,339 miles, indicating an accumulation of approximately 4,667 miles over three years. That is a modest increase and could reflect lighter use or longer periods of standing. No glaring gaps appear in the record, and the mileage pattern does not suggest clocking, but the relatively low recent mileage means wear on consumables like tyres and wipers may stem from age deterioration rather than high use. The recurring theme across multiple tests is rear brake and exhaust deterioration. Rear brake discs were flagged as worn, pitted, or scored in both November 2023 tests and again in August 2022, while rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin in 2022. A minor rear exhaust leak appeared in 2022 and resurfaced in November 2025. This pattern suggests the rear braking system and exhaust have received attention only when legally required rather than proactively maintained. Buyers should inspect the rear calipers for binding, check disc thickness and condition, and examine the rear exhaust box and joints for corrosion or cracking. The November 2023 failure recorded a fractured nearside rear coil spring and a deteriorated offside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover. Although the car passed a retest the same day after repairs, a fractured coil spring is a serious structural concern that warrants close inspection of all four springs for cracks, sag, or corrosion. The anti-roll bar ball joint play noted in October 2024 further indicates suspension wear. A prospective buyer should have the front and rear suspension, bushes, and ball joints examined on a ramp, paying particular attention to the nearside rear spring and offside front ball joint areas.