2014 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6L Diesel · FD64 MLY

The vehicle shows a recurring pattern of front-end suspension and steering wear, alongside a persistent failure to address tyre tread depth. While it achieved a pass on 6 November 2025, this followed a failure involving serious fluid leaks from both front shock absorbers and excessive play in the nearside front track rod end. The trend over the last two years indicates a tendency for critical wear items in the steering and suspension geometry to deteriorate to a major or dangerous level before being rectified. With 100,807 miles recorded over approximately twelve years, the vehicle has averaged roughly 8,401 miles per year. This usage is typical for a commercial vehicle of this age and suggests a steady operational history rather than periods of prolonged standing or extreme high-intensity use. Mechanically, this mileage puts the vehicle in a phase where secondary suspension components and steering linkages naturally reach the end of their service life, as evidenced by the recent failures of the anti-roll bar ball joint and shock absorbers. Attention must be paid to the current state of the front tyres, as both the nearside and offside front tyres were flagged as worn close to the legal limit in November 2025 and have remained as advisories across multiple tests. During a test drive, listen for knocking or clunking sounds when traversing uneven surfaces or speed bumps, which could indicate that the recently replaced anti-roll bar ball joint or track rod end is again wearing, or that other bushings have deteriorated. Check for any steering pull or instability at speed, which may suggest the wheel alignment was not correctly reset following the suspension repairs. Verify that the shock absorbers are now completely dry and functioning correctly, as the previous serious fluid leaks on both the nearside and offside front units were significant failures. Any excessive bouncing or a floaty feeling during braking or cornering would suggest these components are again failing. Given the previous dangerous failure regarding the nearside rear tyre tread, a physical inspection of all four tyres is necessary to ensure they are not merely legal, but have sufficient tread for safe operation.