2009 Volkswagen Transporter 2.5L Diesel · HJ59 HBH

A chronic pattern of suspension, braking, and exhaust degradation defines this Volkswagen Transporter's mechanical record across its MOT history, with multiple failures and a cluster of advisories pointing to a vehicle that has accumulated considerable wear. The most recent test on 25 November 2025 passed, but it carried advisories for an exhaust gas leak, both front tyres worn close to the legal limit on the edges, rear inner brake pads wearing thin, and pitted or scored brake discs. The preceding test a year earlier carried the same exhaust leak advisory alongside a nearside rear tyre edge wear advisory, and that same 2024 test date also produced a failure for an inoperative engine management indicator lamp and a non-functioning offside rear stop lamp. Two years before that, on 13 November 2023, the vehicle failed dangerously on parking brake efficiency below 50 percent of the required value, with major defects recorded for a missing nearside front road wheel fixing, an excessively worn nearside suspension arm ball joint, and a non-functioning nearside front position lamp. The repetition of suspension ball joint wear, recurring tyre edge wear across multiple axles, and brake-related deterioration suggests ongoing consumption of these components rather than isolated incidents. Mileage accumulation on this Transporter is notably high for its age, with 318,205 miles recorded over approximately seventeen years, equating to an annual average of around 18,718 miles. The MOT record shows tests conducted in consecutive late-November periods from 2021 through 2025, with no extended gaps suggesting prolonged off-road storage; the vehicle appears to have been in regular commercial or heavy utility use throughout. At this kind of mileage, internal wear on engine components, clutch and gearbox bearings, dual-mass flywheel, turbocharger bearings, and rear differential mountings is well advanced, and items such as timing chain stretch, injector leak-back, and injector harness faults are common concerns on T5-generation TDI engines at this odometer reading. The annual mileage is consistent with the volume of wear-related advisories seen across the record, and a buyer should assume the drivetrain has done proportionally hard duty. Given the specific components flagged in the MOT history, a prospective buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension during a test drive. Listen for clonks or knocks from the nearside front over speed humps and uneven surfaces, as the 2023 test recorded an excessively worn ball joint and the 2021 test noted severely deteriorated ball joint dust covers on both sides; any play detected when the wheel is rocked by hand at the nine and three o'clock positions would indicate replacement is overdue. Check the tyres carefully for uneven shoulder wear, particularly on the inner and outer edges of both front tyres, which has been flagged repeatedly since 2021. On the road, test the parking brake on an incline as the 2023 reading fell dangerously below 50 percent efficiency; the foot or handbrake should hold the vehicle securely without excessive travel. During the test drive, listen for exhaust ticking or hiss from the rear silencer and joints, as a minor gas leak has been recorded on both the 2024 and 2025 tests, and check for visible black soot deposits around joints. Braking behaviour warrants careful assessment following the 2025 advisories on thin rear inner pads and pitted or scored discs. On the road, the pedal should feel firm without excessive travel or sponginess, and there should be no judder through the steering wheel or vibration under braking, which would suggest disc runout or pad contamination from the scoring noted at test. With the engine management indicator lamp having been flagged as inoperative on both the 2021 and 2024 failures, confirm that the lamp illuminates with the ignition and extinguishes once the engine is running, and request that any stored fault codes be read with a diagnostic tool before purchase, as persistent or unresolved emissions or sensor faults can indicate deeper engine management issues. Finally, inspect the offside rear light cluster for reliable operation and check that the body and subframe areas around the front suspension are free from corrosion, as Transporter T5 chassis members are known to suffer rust that compromises suspension mounting integrity at high mileages.