2012 Vauxhall Astra 1.7L Diesel · HA54 FER

The Vauxhall Astra’s most recent MOT test on 2025-07-12 confirms it remains roadworthy, with no defects recorded. However, the preceding history reveals an unusual pattern: two consecutive failures on 2023-07-20 and 2024-07-24, both with no specific faults logged, followed by two clean passes in 2024 and 2025. While the vehicle has passed its last test, the repeated failures suggest either administrative errors in the MOT process or a period where critical components were overlooked. The absence of advisories or defects in the most recent tests does not fully resolve concerns about potential underlying issues, particularly if the failures were procedural rather than mechanical. The recorded mileage of 119,407 miles over approximately 14 years equates to roughly 8,500 miles annually, which is typical for a vehicle of this age. There are no obvious gaps or spikes in usage that would indicate neglect or excessive wear beyond expected levels. The lack of mileage data between tests makes it impossible to correlate specific failures with usage patterns, but the consistency of mileage suggests the vehicle has been driven regularly rather than stored. Without service records, it remains unclear whether maintenance intervals were adhered to, but the mileage itself does not point to extreme wear on high-mileage components. Given the history, a buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of suspension components, particularly the rear suspension bushes and coil springs, as these are common failure points on this model. The repeated MOT failures—despite no logged defects—raise questions about whether binding brakes or worn brake discs were present but not recorded, so caliper movement and disc thickness should be checked. Corrosion at wheel arches, sills, and the subframe is another critical area, as structural integrity degrades over time. The exhaust system should also be examined for leaks or excessive rust, as emissions-related failures are not uncommon on older models. While the last MOT passed, these areas warrant independent verification to ensure no latent issues exist.