2016 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6L Diesel · FP16 DFJ

The 2016 Vauxhall Vivaro presents an overall stable maintenance trend, having secured a straightforward MOT pass on October 8, 2025, at 69,524 miles. Looking back across its test history, the vehicle has enjoyed several clean passes following a more troubled test in April 2019 that required rectifying a fractured offside rear lower coil spring and a leaking fuel tank. Aside from those historical major defects which appear to have been successfully resolved given the subsequent unbroken run of passes, the recent 2025 test only yielded a minor defect regarding a slightly damaged nearside mirror and a series of advisories concerning rubber degradation and tread wear. This indicates that while the vehicle is generally dependable, routine maintenance has recently allowed consumable items to reach the end of their service life. With a recorded mileage of 69,524 miles at approximately ten years of age, the van has averaged a modest 6,952 miles per year. This rate of use is entirely typical for a commercial vehicle of this class, suggesting it has avoided extreme multi-drop courier duty or heavy fleet pounding, yet has been used consistently enough to prevent the detrimental mechanical issues associated with prolonged storage. However, buyers should still verify the servicing intervals in the logbook to ensure that oil changes and filter replacements were performed on a calendar basis rather than solely relying on distance travelled, particularly given that commercial vehicles often endure stop-start driving conditions. Focusing on the most recent MOT advisories, the attention of any prospective buyer must immediately turn to the tyre health and structural rubber components. The examiner noted that both the nearside and offside rear tyres are slightly damaged, cracking, or perishing, which is a classic sign of age-related rubber degradation where sidewalls dry out and form fine fissures. When inspecting the vehicle, check the date codes on the tyre sidewalls and look closely for structural cracking in the tread grooves and shoulders, as perished tyres compromise grip and risk sudden blowout. Furthermore, the nearside front tyre was recorded as wearing low, meaning you should budget for an imminent tyre replacement on that corner and check the front suspension alignment for signs of uneven wear caused by worn tracking or suspension geometry. On your test drive, pay close attention to the ride quality and listen for any unexpected knocks or groans from the rear axle area, which would indicate lingering or recurring suspension fatigue given the history of a broken rear coil spring in 2019. Inspect the fuel tank area from underneath with a torch to ensure there are no lingering signs of weeping, dampness, or staining around the tank seams following the historical fuel leak repair. Finally, verify that the minor mirror damage is purely cosmetic and test all electrical mirror adjustments, and inspect the brake discs and pads for heavy pitting or surface corrosion that can accumulate if the van has sat idle between recent test dates.