2018 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0L Diesel · FH67 MMF

The most recent DVSA examination on 16 October 2025 resulted in a PASS, although the tester recorded advisories against both front tyres, noting that the nearside and offside front tyres were worn close to the legal limit and worn on edge. Looking at the broader history, the vehicle presents a somewhat mixed maintenance trend. It has accumulated multiple passes across the recorded period, but each of the two failures recorded in 2023 and 2024 was classified as Dangerous, which is a more serious categorisation than a standard fail and reflects defects considered to pose an immediate road safety risk. The pattern of wear-related advisories and dangerous failures, particularly involving brake pad material and wheel fixings, suggests that braking system and tyre condition should be regarded as areas requiring careful scrutiny during any pre-purchase inspection. With a recorded mileage of 60,586 miles over approximately eight years, the vehicle is running at a broadly typical annual rate of around 7,500 miles per year, with no extreme gaps or unusual accumulations evident from the MOT record. This kind of usage is consistent with regular mixed driving and tends to keep mechanical components, fluids, and brakes reasonably active, which generally reduces the risk of standing-related deterioration such as seized calipers or severe underbody corrosion. However, given that the Caddy is a commercial-derived vehicle likely to have carried loads during its working life, it is sensible to consider that higher mechanical loads may have been placed on the clutch, suspension, and braking components compared to a passenger car of equivalent age and mileage. The relatively even annual mileage spread suggests steady use rather than long periods of inactivity, which is broadly reassuring from a corrosion and battery perspective. The 2023 Dangerous failure for front brake pads being less than 1.5 mm thick is a notable point, as this is well below the service limit and would have severely compromised stopping performance. Although the pads will have been replaced to achieve the subsequent pass, this history indicates that brake pad wear should be checked physically during a test drive, listening for any grinding or squealing from the front discs and feeling for brake shudder or uneven pulling under firm application. The 2024 Dangerous failure concerning a nearside front road wheel fixing is unusual and should prompt verification that all wheel bolts or studs are present, intact, and correctly torqued, as a missing fixing indicates either poor wheel refitment or potential stud damage. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or rotational noise from the front wheels and inspect the wheels carefully for cracks or stud integrity. The recurring front tyre edge wear advisories from 2025 also warrant attention, as edge wear can indicate incorrect tracking, worn suspension bushes, or sagging coil springs, all of which are common on a laden commercial platform. Beyond the recorded defects, prospective buyer inspection advice for a 2018 Caddy approaching eight years of service should include a thorough check of tyre sidewalls for perishing or cracking from age, even if tread depth appears adequate, as rubber degrades with calendar age irrespective of mileage. Brake discs should be inspected for lipping, corrosion pitting, or binding calipers, particularly given the history of heavy front pad wear. Suspension components including coil springs, anti-roll bar links, and lower arm bushes should be examined for cracking or movement, as commercial use accelerates wear in these areas. The 12 volt battery health should be tested, especially as the vehicle may have stood between uses, and a voltage drop test under cranking will confirm its condition. Service history should be verified, ensuring that brake fluid, coolant, and gearbox or clutch fluid where applicable have been renewed at their calendar-based intervals, as fluids degrade with time even when mileage is moderate. Finally, a thorough underbody inspection for structural corrosion is advisable, paying particular attention to suspension mounting points and the rear load floor area, which are common corrosion hotspots on Caddy variants of this generation.