2016 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0L Diesel · DV66 XDL

The 2016 Volkswagen Transporter presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 24 November 2025 at 111,551 miles, passed but flagged two advisories: a nearside front inner brake pad approaching its wear indicator and a nearside rear tyre showing uneven wear and slight damage. These are minor consumable issues, not structural or mechanical failures, yet they signal that basic upkeep may have been deferred. The trend is neither clearly worsening nor resolving. The vehicle ran defect-free for four consecutive years between October 2021 and November 2023, but the return of advisories in 2024 and 2025 suggests a shift in attention to routine maintenance. The mileage accumulation is broadly consistent with typical use for a vehicle of this age. Between October 2021 at 80,172 miles and November 2025 at 111,551 miles, the van covered roughly 31,379 miles over four years, averaging around 7,845 miles annually. That is slightly below the lifetime average of approximately 11,155 miles per year, indicating either lighter recent use or a period of reduced activity. There are no glaring gaps in the MOT record, with annual tests filed consistently each autumn, which supports a pattern of regular statutory compliance rather than neglect. The recurring fault worth monitoring is the nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint. The tester identified slight play in this component during the November 2024 test at 105,102 miles, yet it did not reappear as an advisory in the 2025 test. This could mean the joint was replaced or resecured between tests, or that the play remained below the threshold for a formal advisory. Either way, a buyer should have the front suspension inspected on a ramp, specifically checking both anti-roll bar linkages for play and the condition of the lower wishbone bushes, which commonly wear on high-mileage Transporters. The front brake pad advisory in November 2025 is a straightforward wear item, but the uneven rear tyre wear on the nearside deserves closer scrutiny. Uneven tyre wear on a rear-wheel-drive van can stem from worn rear suspension bushes, a misaligned axle, or a binding rear brake caliper. A physical inspection should include a check of the rear leaf spring bushings, shock absorber condition, and the handbrake mechanism, which on this model is often cable-operated and prone to sticking. Given the vehicle's age and commercial duty cycle, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion to the chassis rails, outriggers, and inner wing seams is also advisable before purchase.