2015 Volkswagen Touran 1.6L Diesel · LM64 WDN

A clear corrosion and consumable wear pattern has emerged on this Touran during the most recent MOT on 20 January 2026, where the vehicle passed but received four advisories concentrated around the rear axle and the tyres. The rear subframe was recorded as corroded, and a rear suspension arm was noted as corroded though not seriously weakened under the 5.3.3 (b) (i) category. The fronts showed perished tyres, and the rear brake pads were flagged as wearing thin under 1.1.13 (a) (ii). Prior to this, the 2025 test cycle produced a single failure on 24 January 2025 for perished dust covers on both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, which was then rectified and resulted in a clean pass six days later on 30 January 2025. The intervening years from 2020 through 2024 produced five consecutive passes with no advisories at all, indicating that the deterioration flagged at the most recent test is a relatively recent development rather than a long-standing chronic issue. The overall trend is therefore one of a stable roadworthiness history suddenly showing structural and wear-related advisories at the rear, alongside ageing tyre rubber at the front. With 103,544 miles recorded over approximately eleven years, this Touran has accumulated roughly 9,413 miles per year, which sits squarely within typical usage parameters for a family MPV of its age. The MOT record runs continuously from 2020 through 2026 with no testing gaps, so there is no evidence of extended off-road periods that could have masked deterioration or promoted standing-start corrosion. The mileage accumulation rate suggests regular use, which generally keeps mechanical components working and lubricated, though it also means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes have covered substantial distance. The fact that rear brake pads are only now showing thin wear is consistent with a vehicle that has covered meaningful miles but has not been subjected to unusually heavy braking loads. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas for inspection are the rear suspension and subframe, where corrosion has now been officially recorded. The rear subframe corrosion should be physically examined with a torch and ideally on a ramp, checking for any perforation through the metal, flaking that exposes raw steel, or movement when the vehicle is rocked. The corroded rear suspension arm should be inspected for cracks forming around the bush housings or mounting points, and on a test drive any clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces from the rear would suggest the bush has worn or the arm has weakened beyond advisory levels. Steering irregularities would point instead to the front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints that failed in early 2025; although replaced, the condition of the replacement bushes and the adjacent drop links should be checked, and any knocking from the front end through corners or over speed bumps would warrant closer attention. The perished front tyres flagged in January 2026 will almost certainly have been replaced by now, but the age of the replacement rubber and any uneven shoulder wear should be examined, as perished sidewalls indicate the vehicle may have been stored or used in conditions that degrade rubber. The rear brake pad advisory means a replacement is imminent, and the rear discs should be inspected for lipping, scoring, or corrosion pitting around the outer edge, as 103,000 miles of use commonly brings OE discs close to their wear limit. On a test drive, feel for any judder through the brake pedal, particularly under firm application from higher speeds, and listen for grinding or scraping that would confirm pad material has reached the disc surface. Pulling under braking or a soft, spongy pedal would indicate a seized caliper or hydraulic issue requiring further investigation. Finally, given the recent appearance of structural advisories after several clean years, the vehicle warrants an inspection beneath the wheel arch liners and along the trailing arm mounts for any bubbling paint or white corrosion residue, as these are the typical early indicators that the rear axle corrosion will progress to a more serious MOT category in subsequent tests.