2015 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0L Diesel · GD65 VAM

A clear pattern of front suspension wear dominates this Transporter's MOT history, with the lower arm rear bushes having been flagged at every test from December 2022 through December 2025 and a dangerous rear brake defect recorded on the most recent attempt. The record shows the vehicle failed its test on 15 December 2025 on a dangerous rear brake pad thickness reading of less than 1.5 mm, yet passed the same day after rectification, with the suspension and tyre advisories carried forward unchanged. This is not a vehicle with a one-off advisory; it is one where identical components have been noted across three consecutive annual tests, indicating progressive deterioration rather than a transient condition. The accumulation of brake-related concerns, including pitted rear discs and thinning pads in 2022 and 2024 followed by the dangerous reading in 2025, suggests the rear braking system has been allowed to wear to the point of legal failure before being addressed. With 46,493 miles recorded over approximately eleven years, the average annual mileage of around 4,227 miles is notably low and points to extended periods of standing or only occasional use. Such low accumulation reduces wear on major drivetrain components but increases the likelihood of corrosion on braking surfaces, deterioration of rubber components including bushes, tyres, and seals, and potential issues with the clutch and exhaust system from infrequent operation. The MOT testing has been carried out consistently on an annual basis since 2022, with no multi-year gaps that would suggest a long-term lay-up, so the advisory pattern is more consistent with low usage allowing components to deteriorate in situ than with any abrupt change in how the vehicle has been driven. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a thorough physical inspection of the front lower suspension arms and their rear bushes, as these have been flagged repeatedly without resolution. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and during full-lock manoeuvres, and feel for any vagueness or delay in steering response that could indicate the bushes have now worn beyond the advisory threshold. The rear brakes also warrant direct scrutiny; the vehicle should be road-tested from a moderate speed with firm pedal pressure to check for any judder through the pedal suggesting the pitted discs may now be warped, and the handbrake should be tested on an incline to confirm the rear calipers are not binding, which is a known issue on Transporter rear drum and disc assemblies left standing for long periods. The nearside front tyre sidewall damage flagged in 2025 should also be examined closely, as sidewall perishing or cracking can develop further on a vehicle that sees limited mileage and is often stored outside, and the same tyre should be checked for any bulging or signs of structural failure. Given that the rear brake pads were found to be dangerously worn at the last test despite passing on the same day, it is reasonable to ask for documentary evidence of the work carried out and to budget for replacement of the rear discs and pads together with both front lower suspension arm bushes as the next likely maintenance items. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp would be strongly advisable to verify the underside condition of the arms, the security of the rear brake caliper carriers, and the general state of the underbody, as the MOT history alone does not record corrosion findings and a Transporter of this age is not immune to underfloor or subframe oxidation in salt-affected regions.