2006 Volkswagen Touran 2.0L Diesel · LB06 AVL

A recurring pattern of suspension, braking, and corrosion advisories, punctuated by a serious failure in mid-2025, defines the mechanical outlook for this 2006 Volkswagen Touran. The most recent test on 3 June 2026 was a pass, but it carried four advisories, including rear subframe corrosion, corroded rear coil springs nearside and offside, worn front brake discs, and sills coated in underseal. Just under a year earlier, on 30 June 2025, the vehicle failed on multiple significant items: an inoperative or malfunctioning engine management indicator lamp (MIL), a dangerous defect for a missing offside front anti-roll bar linkage, and a serious fluid leak from the offside rear shock absorber. The same 2025 fail also recorded a minor for a severely deteriorated nearside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover, which was carried forward as an advisory on the subsequent pass. Historically the car passed clean in 2020 and 2024, but the intervening years show persistent advisories on front shock absorbers (light oil misting noted in 2021 and 2023), brake hoses deteriorating on multiple axles, and rear brake binding. Taken together, the trend is one of accumulating wear rather than stable roadworthiness, with the 2025 failure representing a notable low point. Mileage stands at 237,427 miles over roughly twenty years, which equates to an annual accumulation of around 11,871 miles per year, a figure broadly typical for a vehicle of this age that has been in regular daily use rather than long-term storage. There are no significant gaps between tests from 2020 onwards, indicating the car has remained on the road and in continuous service throughout this period. For a high-mileage Touran of this vintage, that consistency of use tends to produce wear on consumables and chassis components rather than the issues associated with prolonged standing, and the advisory profile is consistent with that. The recorded odometer readings rise steadily between tests, with no sudden jumps or unusual step changes that would suggest clocking or discrepancy, and the mileage is therefore consistent with the advisory pattern observed. For a prospective buyer, the rear subframe corrosion advisory on the latest test warrants close physical inspection. The examiner noted it as not seriously weakened at that time, but subframe corrosion on a Touran of this age and mileage can progress quickly, particularly around mounting points, spring seats, and where the anti-roll bar linkage attaches. It would be prudent to place the vehicle on a ramp and visually check the rear axle assembly for any surface flaking beyond light oxidation, paying particular attention to structural box sections and the inner faces of the trailing arms. Likewise, the corroded rear coil springs both sides should be inspected for any cracking at the lower coils, and a test drive over uneven surfaces should be carried out listening for any clonking or knocking from the rear that could indicate failed spring seats or weakened spring metal. The sills being coated in underseal waxoyl makes external visual assessment difficult, so any indication of bubbling, cracking, or fresh sealant should prompt further investigation beneath the underseal for hidden structural corrosion. The 2025 failure items are particularly important to verify have been properly resolved. The missing offside front anti-roll bar linkage is categorised as dangerous when absent, so confirmation that a quality replacement part was fitted and correctly torqued is essential, and a test drive should include some firm cornering and direction changes to detect any remaining clonking or looseness from the front suspension. The offside rear shock absorber fluid leak and the nearside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover deterioration should both be re-inspected visually, and on the move any vagueness in the front end, uneven tyre wear across the front axle, or a rear end that feels unsettled over bumps would indicate the dampers or ball joints may still be marginal. The advisory on front brake disc wear warrants checking disc thickness against manufacturer minimums and feeling for brake judder or vibration under firm pedal application. Finally, the recurring advisories on brake hose deterioration (front in 2023, rear in 2021) suggest the hydraulic flexible hoses are reaching the end of their service life, and they should be inspected for cracking, swelling, or perishing when the wheels are removed, as perished flexible hoses are a common MOT failure point on high-mileage vehicles of this age.