2012 Volkswagen Caddy 1.6L Diesel · DS61 SEO

This 2012 Volkswagen Caddy presents a stable and largely reassuring roadworthiness profile. The most recent MOT, conducted on 11 February 2026 at 191,380 miles, passed with zero defects recorded, indicating the vehicle met all safety and emissions standards at that time. The maintenance trend over the past four years shows a clear improvement, with the tester flagging minor suspension wear in early 2025 and 2022, but no recurring or worsening mechanical failures since. The absence of defects in both the January 2024 and February 2026 tests suggests the previous owner addressed the flagged items promptly. The mileage accumulation tells a consistent story of sustained commercial or heavy daily use. Between January 2022 at 148,674 miles and February 2026 at 191,380 miles, the vehicle covered approximately 42,700 miles over four years, averaging just over 10,600 miles annually during that window. The annualised figure of roughly 13,670 miles across its full lifespan is elevated for a 14-year-old van, pointing to prolonged motorway or delivery-style driving rather than short urban trips. This pattern accelerates wear on consumable components, particularly tyres, brake discs, suspension bushes, and exhaust systems, even though the MOT record itself remains clean. The advisories raised in the 2025 and 2022 tests both concerned slight play in front suspension ball joints and anti-roll bar linkages, classic wear points on high-mileage light commercial vehicles. These items were evidently rectified before the 2024 and 2026 tests, but a prospective buyer should still inspect the front lower suspension arms, ball joint dust boots, and anti-roll bar droplinks in person for any fresh deterioration. Given the recorded mileage, the condition of the rear leaf springs, shock absorbers, and subframe mounting points also warrants close physical examination. Beyond the suspension, a buyer should verify the condition of the brake discs and pads across all wheels, check for corrosion on the chassis rails and sills, and confirm the exhaust system remains structurally sound with no blowing joints. The clean February 2026 result is encouraging, but at nearly 192,000 miles, this Caddy is entering the zone where fatigue-related failures on drivetrain mounts, steering rack gaiters, and fuel system components become increasingly likely. A thorough test drive over varied road surfaces remains essential before purchase.