2010 Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0L Diesel · FP59 KCV

A clear pattern of lighting and electrical defects dominates the MOT history of this Vivaro, with a 2025-01-20 pass recorded against a backdrop of failed lighting checks across multiple tests in 2022, 2023, and early 2024. Bulb-related majors for front position lamps, rear position lamps, stop lamps, rear fog lamps, and registration plate lamps appear repeatedly, suggesting either a systemic wiring or connector issue rather than isolated bulb failures. More concerning is the braking history, beginning with a Dangerous failure on 2024-01-11 for parking brake efficiency below 50%, compounded by a nearside parking brake found inoperative on one side. Front brake pads were also recorded under 1.5 mm thick at a previous Dangerous-level test in late 2022, and rear pads were flagged as wearing thin in the 2025 advisory list. These are commercial-vehicle-duty components under heavy load, and the recorded wear profile aligns with the demands placed on a van of this age and mileage. At 159,517 miles over sixteen years, the average annual accumulation is roughly 9,970 miles, which sits within typical commercial usage bounds. The testing record is broadly continuous year on year from 2021 onwards, indicating the vehicle has been in regular service rather than laid up for extended periods, so corrosion risks from long-term standing are less of a concern. However, the sustained annual mileage on a van of this vintage means significant wear on suspension, braking, clutch, and drivetrain consumables should be assumed, particularly given the front lower suspension arm bushes and upper anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover flagged in the most recent test history. A prospective buyer should treat the front suspension as a priority inspection area, given the advisories on both nearside and offside front lower arm pins or bushes and the major item recorded for the nearside front upper anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks over uneven surfaces, particularly at low speed over speed humps and potholes, and feel for vagueness or knocking through the steering wheel when traversing rough tarmac, which would indicate worn bushes allowing excessive movement. A bouncy or unsettled ride, particularly when unladen, may suggest weakened front coil springs or top mount wear, the latter being recorded as having play in 2021. Check the rear brake pads and discs physically via the wheels, as the advisory specifically noted both sides were wearing thin, and on test feel for any pulling under braking or a spongy or low-effort parking brake lever, both of which would warrant immediate rectification given the 2024 parking brake failure. Electrical integrity deserves thorough checks, given the volume of lighting defects across the record. Walk around the vehicle at start-up and confirm all front position lamps, rear position lamps, stop lamps, rear fog lamp, and registration plate lamps illuminate correctly, as intermittent connector faults on commercial vans commonly cause repeated bulb failures. Inspect all rear lamp lenses for cracks or water ingress, as the 2023 advisory recorded damage to the nearside rear light lens and the 2023 failure recorded serious lens defects on the offside rear position lamp. Finally, the front tyres should be examined closely for inner-edge wear, as this was recorded on both sides in the 2023 advisories, which on a Vivaro typically points to worn lower suspension arms, tie bar bushes, or tracking issues that would need correction alongside any suspension component replacement.