2012 Vauxhall Astra 1.7L Diesel · FP61 KWR

The 2012 Vauxhall Astra holds a clean MOT certificate dated 3 November 2025 at 131,391 miles, with zero defects recorded. That result follows a failed test on 21 October 2025 at the same mileage, where the tester flagged four distinct faults: a driver's door that could not be opened from inside, a major rear exhaust gas leak, an offside front brake pad below 1.5 mm, and an incorrect nearside headlamp aim. All four items were evidently rectified before the retest eleven days later, indicating the previous owner addressed the failures promptly rather than deferring them. The overall maintenance trend is therefore stable and currently resolving, with no outstanding advisories or recurring defects on the latest pass. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. Between October 2022 at 97,855 miles and October 2024 at 120,971 miles, the car covered roughly 11,500 miles per year, which aligns closely with the average of about 9,385 miles per year calculated over its full fourteen-year life. The record then shows a jump of 10,420 miles in the twelve months leading to the November 2025 test, a modest uptick but not an alarming one. Crucially, the mileage remained static at 131,391 miles across both the failed and passed tests in October and November 2025, confirming the car was not driven between the failure and the retest, which is reassuring from a safety standpoint. Prospective buyers should still carry out a focused physical inspection despite the clean certificate. The October 2025 failure for a major rear exhaust leak warrants a close check of the full exhaust system, particularly the rear silencer and any welded joints, for fresh repairs or patching. The worn offside front brake pad suggests uneven wear across the front axle, so a buyer should verify the condition of both front brake discs and the nearside pads, along with caliper slide pins that could cause differential wear. The door latch fault, while now resolved, justifies testing all door mechanisms, including the rear doors and tailgate, to confirm smooth operation. Beyond the flagged items, the car's age and mileage mean suspension bushes, coil springs, and anti-roll bar links deserve attention for perishing or play. The nearside headlamp aim fault, though corrected, raises the question of whether the aim mechanism or levelling system is functioning correctly, so a beam pattern check is sensible. Structurally, a thorough underside inspection for corrosion is advisable, particularly around suspension mounting points, sills, and the subframe, as these areas commonly deteriorate on vehicles of this age regardless of mileage.