2015 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0L Diesel · KX65 LDY

This Volkswagen Caddy carries a notably mixed MOT record that warrants careful scrutiny, with two failures and several advisories across the seven tests logged since 2020. The most recent test outcome, recorded on 16 January 2026, resulted in a pass with no defects recorded, but on the very same date a separate test was conducted that issued a failure with two dangerous tyre tread depth items, a major engine management warning lamp defect, and a major front brake imbalance across an axle. This pairing of pass and fail on the same day suggests the vehicle was presented, failed, repairs were carried out immediately, and it was then retested and passed. The 2024 test similarly produced both a failure (rear suspension arm bush wear and deteriorated anti-roll bar linkage dust cover) and a pass within two days, with the same brake pad and tyre wear advisories carried over from the failure. Taken together, the pattern shows repeated work required on the front brakes, front tyres, and front suspension components over the last two testing cycles, while the earlier tests in 2020, 2021, and 2023 recorded clean passes with no advisories at all. The defining mechanical story is therefore one of escalating front-end wear in the last two years after a relatively uneventful first half of the decade on file. Mileage on this Caddy stands at 70,258 miles across an 11-year recorded life, which equates to roughly 6,387 miles per year on average. This is broadly typical for a working light commercial vehicle of this age, though there is a notable gap between the November 2020 test and the November 2021 test where no mileage progression can be confirmed within the MOT record itself, and similarly the mileage between January 2025 and January 2026 would need to be verified via the V5C or service records to confirm whether accumulation has been steady or has accelerated. Mechanically, moderate annual mileage on a Caddy of this vintage is consistent with steady wear on consumables such as brake pads and discs, front tyres, and suspension bushes and links, all of which have featured in the recent advisories. The fact that front-end components have begun to flag repeatedly after years of clean tests suggests that wear is now accumulating at a rate where multiple items are reaching end-of-service life in the same cycle, which is a familiar pattern for vans in light commercial use around this age and mileage. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection items are the front suspension, front braking system, and front tyres, all of which have appeared repeatedly. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over bumps and on uneven surfaces, particularly indicating worn lower arm rear bushes or anti-roll bar linkage ball joints as flagged in the 2024 failure; any vagueness in the steering or a shimmy through the wheel at speed could point to worn suspension links. The brakes should be tested progressively with the engine running, checking for pulling to one side under firm pedal pressure, which would suggest the front brake imbalance previously recorded, and for any judder or pulsing through the pedal that indicates warped front discs. Inspect the front brake pad material visible through the wheel spokes, as the pads were flagged as wearing thin in 2024, and check the discs for a sharp lip on the outer edge suggesting they are nearing minimum thickness. The tyres must be inspected on both shoulders and across the full tread, looking for uneven wear patterns such as inner or outer edge wear which can indicate suspension geometry issues or incorrect alignment, as well as any cracking or perishing in the sidewalls which was specifically flagged in 2024. Beyond the mechanical components, the engine management warning lamp defect recorded on the January 2026 failure warrants direct enquiry. Confirm the diagnostic fault codes that triggered the MIL inoperative or malfunction indication, as this can range from a simple sensor such as the lambda sensor or mass airflow sensor through to more significant ignition or emissions faults, and ensure any repair carried out between the failed and passed tests on the same day is fully documented with an itemised invoice. The rear tyres also showed cracking and perishing in 2024 consistent with underinflation damage, so all four tyres should be checked for age-related sidewall deterioration and correct pressures. Given the clustering of front-end wear advisories across the 2024 and 2026 tests, a buyer should budget for imminent replacement of front brake pads, likely front discs, a full set of front tyres, and at least an inspection of the front suspension bushes and anti-roll bar links, with a pre-purchase inspection on a ramp strongly advisable to confirm the current state of these components before committing to the purchase.