2009 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0L Diesel · FE59 JVY

The most recent MOT record, dated 19 November 2025 at 136,783 miles, shows a pass, but the same test day also recorded a failure that reveals a mixed maintenance picture. The tester flagged worn trailing arm bushes on both rear corners, worn front suspension arm bushes, and corrosion on the rear subframe, rear subframe mounting areas, and both rear lower suspension arms. None of these were deemed seriously weakened or resulting in excessive movement at the time of testing, yet their presence on a single test day alongside a fresh advisory-free pass in November 2023 suggests a gradual decline in underbody condition rather than a sudden failure. The trend is worsening, particularly around rear suspension mounting points and structural corrosion, even though the vehicle remains legally roadworthy today. The mileage pattern is broadly consistent with light-to-moderate use for a 2009 vehicle now approaching 17 years old. Between the November 2023 test at 127,352 miles and the November 2024 test at 129,861 miles, the vehicle covered roughly 2,509 miles in 12 months. From November 2024 to November 2025, it added 6,922 miles, taking the total from 129,861 to 136,783. This step up in annual mileage implies more recent sustained use, which can accelerate wear on consumables such as tyres and suspension bushes, while also placing greater demand on the rear subframe and suspension components already showing age-related corrosion. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the rear suspension and subframe area. Repeated advisories for corroded rear subframes, rear subframe mountings, and rear lower suspension arms indicate that these zones have been under close scrutiny for several years. Even though testers have repeatedly judged the corrosion as not seriously weakened, the cumulative pattern suggests ongoing exposure to moisture and road salt, with potential for hidden pitting or section loss around mounting points. Check for play in the rear trailing arm bushes and lower suspension arms, and look for any fresh cracking or flaking around the rear subframe mounting areas. The front suspension also warrants close attention. Worn front suspension arm bushes appeared in both the 2024 and 2025 tests, and the 2024 failure included an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint. Combined with repeated tyre wear advisories, including a cut reaching the ply or cords on the offside front tyre in 2025, this points to alignment, bush wear, or component fatigue issues that may not yet be severe but are clearly recurring. Inspect inner and outer tyre sidewalls, ball joint dust covers, and track rod ends, and consider a full four-wheel alignment check before purchase.