2007 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0L Diesel · EU07 ULC

A pattern of chronic front and rear suspension wear dominates the mechanical profile of this 2007 Volkswagen Caddy, supported by an MOT record that shows persistent advisories on lower arm pins and bushes alongside outright Major failures on the front suspension. The most recent pass on 15 September 2025 came with advisories on pitted front brake discs, casing damage to a nearside rear shock absorber and an offside front shock absorber, plus a minor note for a damaged offside windscreen. The 2024 cycle is particularly telling: the vehicle failed on 9 September 2024 with Major defects for excessively worn front lower suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides, then passed eight days later on 17 September 2024 with rear lower suspension arm pin or bush advisories still recorded. This sequence establishes that suspension linkage wear on this Caddy is not a one-off finding but a recurring issue, and the fact that front and rear lower arm bushes have been flagged in consecutive tests suggests the original components were likely replaced with pattern parts that are themselves wearing through, or that adjacent components are now under increased stress. Recorded mileage stands at 156,220 miles across approximately nineteen years, giving an annual accumulation of roughly 8,222 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a commercial or light commercial-derived vehicle of this age and consistent with steady operational use rather than long periods off the road. There are no significant gaps in the testing history and no evidence of a stationary period that would raise typical concerns about seized brakes, perished coolant hoses, or dormant fuel system components. At this mileage, wear rates on suspension consumables, brake discs, and shock absorbers are consistent with what the MOT record actually documents, and the absence of mileage-related failures beyond the suspension and braking components indicates the powertrain and major mechanical assemblies have not so far produced any testable defects. For a prospective buyer, the immediate mechanical priority is a thorough physical inspection of the front and rear suspension assemblies, with particular attention to the lower arm pins and bushes that have been repeatedly flagged across 2024 and 2025. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed humps, uneven road joins, and potholes, and feel for vagueness or shimmy through the steering wheel that could indicate worn front bushes allowing excessive wheel movement. Inspect the rear lower arms for any play when the wheel is rocked by hand, and check the condition for the rubber bump stops and coil springs for any signs of corrosion or sagging, as Caddys of this vintage are known to suffer from failed rear spring coils. The advisories on shock absorber casing damage warrant a visual check for any hydraulic fluid seepage or misting on the damper bodies, and the test drive should include a series of consecutive dips and crests to assess whether the dampers are adequately controlling body movement and preventing secondary float over undulating surfaces. Brake-related advisories have appeared in 2021, 2023, and 2025 for worn or scored front discs, indicating that disc condition is an ongoing maintenance item rather than a defect that has been permanently resolved. On test, the buyer should check for brake judder through the steering wheel or pedal under the brake disc vibration and feel for any pulse under the brake pedal that could suggest runout in the discs. The 2023 failure for an inoperative nearside front direction indicator is worth verifying by personally operating the offside and nearside indicators and hazard lights, and checking that all bulbs illuminate cleanly without flickering. Finally, given the Caddy’s reputation for corrosion around the rear axle and underbody seams, the underside should be inspected for any surface corrosion progressing through to structural members, and the area around the subframe mounting bolts should be checked for any signs of rust bubbling through the paintwork, as this would be a more pressing concern than the advisories currently recorded.