2009 Volkswagen Transporter 1.9L Diesel · K9 SRR

Corrosion and suspension wear are the defining themes of this Transporter's test history, and the latest pass on 29 July 2026 does little to soften that picture. The most recent certificate carries five advisories, including corrosion to the integral rear body structure, corroded front lower suspension arms on both sides, worn rear lower suspension arm bushes on both sides, and corroded front brake hose ferrules. This follows a 2024 test in which the van initially failed on a fractured offside rear coil spring and a rough nearside rear wheel bearing before passing on retest the same day, and a 2025 pass that flagged thin rear inner brake pads, a binding offside rear brake, slight play in a front anti-roll bar linkage, and a worn front lower arm bush. The trend is not worsening dramatically year on year, but the advisory count is consistently heavy and concentrated in the same areas: rear suspension, brake components, and creeping corrosion. At 174,763 miles over roughly seventeen years, the van has averaged about 10,280 miles annually, which is typical for a vehicle of this type and age. Testing has been consistent each July with no significant gaps in the record, so the mileage accumulation appears steady rather than punctuated by long lay-ups. This kind of regular, moderate use is consistent with the wear pattern shown: consumable and load-bearing items such as coil springs, wheel bearings, shock absorbers, bushes, and brake cables have been progressively flagged rather than failing in clusters, which is what one would expect from a high-mileage commercial vehicle worked steadily rather than one left standing. For a prospective buyer, the corrosion items deserve the closest physical inspection. The rear integral body structure corrosion advisory, while not yet judged to significantly reduce rigidity, should be examined underneath with the van on a ramp if possible, paying attention to the rear chassis rails, spring hangers, and load floor, since body structure corrosion on a Transporter of this age can progress from advisory to failure within a couple of test cycles. The corroded front lower suspension arms and the corroded front brake hose ferrules should also be inspected closely; surface corrosion on the arms is common, but any deep pitting or flaking near mounting points is a concern, and brake hose ferrule corrosion can eventually compromise the hose itself. On a test drive, listen and feel for the specific items flagged. Worn lower arm bushes front and rear typically produce a knock or clunk over sharp bumps and can cause vague or wandering steering under braking; the fractured coil spring replaced in 2024 warrants a check that the van sits level and does not creak over compressions. The previously binding offside rear brake and damaged rear brake cables suggest testing the handbrake holds firmly on a gradient and feeling for any pulling or a hot wheel after a drive, while the rough rear wheel bearing history means listening for a humming or droning that rises with road speed. The rusted exhaust noted in 2023 and the recurring shock absorber casing damage are worth a visual check underneath, and any evidence of recent welding or underseal should prompt questions about what it is concealing.