2013 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · FV13 BOJ

The Volkswagen Polo holds a valid MOT certificate from the January 2025 test at 88,966 miles, yet the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The most recent inspection flagged play in the steering rack inner joints alongside multiple tyre defects, including a nail penetration, sidewall cuts and perishing rubber on the nearside rear. This follows a January 2024 failure on worn front lower suspension arm rear bushes on both sides and a headlamp aim defect, items that persisted as advisories on the subsequent retest. The clean bills of health seen in 2022 and 2023 have given way to escalating chassis and running gear wear. Mileage accumulation has accelerated sharply over the last five years. The car covered only 15,000 miles in its first seven years, averaging barely 2,000 miles annually, but has since logged roughly 10,000 miles per year between 2020 and 2025. The jump from 68,296 miles in January 2023 to 88,966 miles in January 2025 confirms a period of intensive use that aligns directly with the emergence of suspension and steering faults. No mileage anomalies or clocking indicators appear in the record; the progression is consistent with a change in ownership or usage pattern around 2019. A buyer should prioritise a thorough underbonnet and underbody inspection targeting the steering rack mounting and inner track rod ends for excessive free play. The front lower control arm rear bushes require close examination for rubber deterioration or voiding, as the 2024 failure indicates they are nearing the end of service life. Tyre condition demands scrutiny for cuts, ageing cracks and uneven wear patterns that may betray unresolved geometry issues. While brake advisories have been absent since 2018, the early history of pitted front discs and imbalance suggests the braking system received attention at that time; verifying disc thickness and caliper function remains prudent. No structural corrosion advisories appear in the history, but the lower suspension mounting points warrant specific inspection given the bush wear.