2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0L Diesel · GV68 FTD

The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan passed its most recent MOT on 4 March 2026 at 121,101 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. After two consecutive clean passes in January 2022 and January 2023, the record shows a pattern of emerging defects. The February 2025 test at 110,015 miles flagged a light oil misting on the nearside front shock absorber, indicating early seal degradation. By the March 2026 test, both front and rear brake discs were worn, pitted, or scored, and both front tyres were worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge. These are not isolated consumable replacements. The simultaneous deterioration of braking components on all four corners and uneven front tyre wear points to a vehicle that has been driven hard and maintained reactively rather than proactively. The mileage accumulation tells a consistent story. Between January 2022 at 55,069 miles and March 2026 at 121,101 miles, the vehicle covered 66,032 miles in just over four years, averaging roughly 15,750 miles per year. That is a high annual rate for a family SUV, and the MOT record reflects the consequences. The gap between the January 2023 test at 76,971 miles and the March 2024 test at 97,736 miles shows 20,765 miles accumulated in 14 months, a notably rapid period of use. No tests exist between March 2024 and February 2025, which is unusual and suggests the vehicle may have been off the road or untested during that window. The 11,086-mile jump from February 2025 to March 2026 confirms the vehicle remained in active, high-demand service right up to its latest inspection. A buyer should focus on the front suspension and braking system during any in-person inspection. The nearside front shock absorber oil misting noted in February 2025 was an advisory-level concern at the time, but with another 11,000 miles since then, that damper may now be visibly weeping or compromised. Check both front shock absorbers for oil contamination, bounce-test the front end, and inspect the front suspension bushes and drop links for play. The pitted and scored front and rear brake discs flagged in March 2026 suggest the vehicle has been driven in conditions or styles that accelerate disc wear, possibly combined with infrequent pad changes. Measure disc thickness and inspect pad life remaining. The uneven front tyre wear noted at the same test raises a question about front wheel alignment and tracking, which should be verified on a four-wheel alignment rack before purchase.