2022 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi C20 Commerce + TDI 2.0L Diesel · GL71 YTO

A persistent engine management warning lamp and an unresolved tyre wear pattern define the mechanical picture for this Caddy Maxi. Across its four recorded MOT events, the vehicle has failed twice in 2026, both times with a Major defect against the engine MIL check under item 8.2, indicating that the dashboard malfunction indicator lamp was either not illuminating on demand or was permanently lit to signal an emissions or engine management fault. That same advisory regarding an offside front inner tyre worn to the legal limit on its edge has now appeared on consecutive tests in April 2026, suggesting either a recurring geometry issue or simply that the tyre has not yet been replaced since first being flagged. The intervening advisory on brake pads and brake fluid from the February 2025 pass provides the only other mechanical data point and points to wear items left to deteriorate rather than renew. Overall, the trend across 2025 and 2026 is worsening, not stable, and any prospective buyer is looking at a van that has spent the first months of 2026 either off the road following failures or driving around with an active engine warning. With four recorded years of use and 75,091 miles on the odometer, the annual accumulation sits at approximately 18,773 miles per year, which is markedly high for a four-year-old light commercial of this class. There is a gap of roughly thirteen months between the January 2026 test and the previous February 2025 test, and another five-day gap between the failed test on 8 April 2026 and the subsequent pass on 13 April 2026, indicating that the vehicle has been actively in use throughout and subjected to a high proportion of working mileage rather than laid-up periods. This kind of sustained, heavy usage accelerates wear on clutches, dual-mass flywheels, turbocharger seals, diesel particulate filters, suspension bushes and dampers, and braking components, all of which are commonly expensive to remediate on the Caddy platform. The combined picture is one of a hardworking van that has been driven consistently and is now beginning to throw up the type of component-level defects one would expect to see at this mileage. Before purchase, the engine MIL issue must be diagnosed and resolved in writing, as the same defect caused two separate failures only weeks apart and could relate to anything from a faulty sensor or wiring fault to DPF, EGR, or turbocharger concerns on the TDI unit. A live diagnostic scan reading live data, not just cleared codes, is essential to confirm whether the underlying fault has actually been rectified. On the road, listen for any irregular idle, hesitation under throttle, smoky exhaust on startup or extended motorway running, and check for any pending glow plug or emissions-related codes. The persistent offside front inner edge wear warrants a four-wheel alignment check and a close inspection of the offside front suspension arm, wishbone bush, and strut top mount for play, as uneven inner-edge wear on a single tyre is frequently a symptom of worn suspension geometry rather than simply a tyre at the end of its life. The braking system should also be inspected physically, given the February 2025 advisories on both front and rear brake pads wearing thin alongside brake fluid sitting close to the minimum mark. On a test drive, expect to feel for any pulling to one side under braking, any judder through the pedal suggesting warped discs, and any binding or uneven release from the calipers particularly after the van has been left standing. The washers flagged as insufficient in January 2026 should be confirmed as fully functional and the reservoir topped up, as this was a straight failure item rather than an advisory. Finally, given the high annual mileage and the working-van profile, budget for near-term replacement of the tyres, brake pads and discs, and a full underbody inspection for any developing corrosion on the subframe, brake pipes, and suspension linkages, all of which are routine MOT failure areas on high-mileage Caddys of this generation.