2012 Vauxhall Antara 2.2L Diesel · LB12 HPV

The vehicle maintains a roadworthy status, though the maintenance trend shows a shift toward developing suspension and steering wear. The most recent test in February 2023 at 72,258 miles identified offside play in the steering rack inner joints and oil misting on the nearside front shock absorber. While these issues did not prevent a pass, they indicate that front suspension components are reaching the end of their operational life and require monitoring to prevent future failure. At 72,258 miles, the Antara has significantly low mileage for its age, averaging approximately 5,161 miles per year. This low usage often suggests lighter mechanical stress but can also lead to the degradation of rubber components and seals over time. The data gap between February 2022 and February 2023 shows an accumulation of only 5,907 miles, which is consistent with the low-use profile but explains the appearance of specific wear patterns, such as the worn tyres noted in the 2022 test. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the front-end geometry to assess the extent of the steering rack play and the condition of the shock absorbers. The reported misting in 2023 suggests a seal failure is beginning, which will eventually lead to total damping loss. Additionally, the oil leak flagged in February 2022 should be inspected on the engine block and gearbox to ensure it has not worsened or remained untreated. Given the age of the vehicle, checking the chassis for corrosion around the subframe mounting points is essential, as these areas were not explicitly detailed in the provided MOT history.