2014 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · GL14 DUU

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a trend of worsening mechanical neglect regarding the suspension and braking systems. While the car passed its most recent MOT in January 2026 at 109,097 miles, it had failed just days prior with multiple defects. The tester identified serious fluid leaks from both rear shock absorbers and a failure for critically thin nearside front brake pads and scored discs. These failures suggest that the previous owner only addressed mechanical issues once they reached the point of legal failure rather than performing proactive preventative maintenance. The mileage pattern is consistent with a 12-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 9,000 miles per year. There was a significant period of low usage between 2017 and 2020, where the car covered only 16,000 miles in three years. However, usage increased sharply after 2021, with the mileage jumping from 30,833 to over 109,000 in just five years. This higher annual mileage correlates with the increased frequency of wear-related faults, particularly regarding suspension bushings and exhaust components seen in the later test records. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the entire suspension and steering assembly. The record shows recurring issues with the power steering hose corrosion, appearing in 2023, 2024, and 2026, alongside a history of worn control arm bushes and fractured coil springs. The January 2026 failure for shock absorbers indicates that the damping system was recently overhauled, which should be verified for quality of parts used. Furthermore, the major exhaust leak recorded in 2023 and the subsequent lambda readings suggest the engine's exhaust system and catalytic converter require close monitoring to ensure they do not fail again shortly after purchase.