2013 Vauxhall Astra 1.7L Diesel · DX63 EXZ

The vehicle presents a mixed picture. Its most recent test on 9 February 2026 at 115,996 miles resulted in a pass, yet the maintenance trend is best described as stable but chronically flawed. The tester flagged the nearside rear coil spring for corrosion, a fault that has appeared in four of the last five annual tests. This persistent advisory points to an unresolved structural weakness rather than a one-off item. The 2025 failure was more serious, combining incorrect headlamp aim with a dangerously cut nearside front tyre and a bald nearside front tyre below 1.6mm, alongside the same corroded spring. That combination suggests a period of neglected basic checks, though the subsequent pass indicates the immediate tyre and lamp issues were at least temporarily addressed. Mileage accumulation is consistent with typical use for a 2013 vehicle. The recorded 115,996 miles represents roughly 8,900 miles per year. Progression through the tests is steady, moving from 85,289 miles in February 2023 to 96,782 miles in February 2024, then 107,926 miles in February 2025, and finally 115,996 miles in February 2026. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer record, and no long periods of inactivity are evident from the data. The vehicle appears to have been driven regularly throughout its life. Buyers should focus their physical inspection on the rear suspension and underbody corrosion. The nearside rear coil spring has been repeatedly flagged for corrosion under Section 5.3.1(b)(i) since at least February 2024, and this advisory remained live in the most recent 2026 test. A corroded coil spring is a structural risk; it can fracture without warning, particularly under load or over sharp bumps. Have the spring closely examined for pitting, flaking, or reduced free height, and check the corresponding offside spring for similar decay. Inspect the rear subframe mounting points, suspension arms, and trailing links for rust jacking or perforation. The 2025 failure also exposed poor attention to consumables. A cut tyre deep enough to expose ply or cords, plus a tyre worn below the legal minimum, indicates the previous owner was not conducting routine walk-around checks. Examine all four tyres for uneven wear, sidewall damage, and age-related cracking, particularly if the date codes suggest they are older than five years. The rear brake disc noted as worn and pitted in 2023, along with thin rear pads, warrants a check of the entire braking system. Look for lipping on discs, binding rear calipers, and the condition of flexible hoses. The windscreen damage noted in 2023 may have been repaired, but verify there is no new damage in the driver's line of sight.