2018 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6L Diesel · LM67 RAM

This Vauxhall Vivaro presents a mixed mechanical profile dominated by recurring wear on the front suspension, exhaust emissions hardware, and tyre condition. Across the six recorded MOT tests since 2021, the vehicle has passed four times and failed twice, with a further failure logged on the same day as the 2024 pass — an unusual administrative note rather than a second test. The 2025-11-13 pass carried an advisory for a nearside rear tyre worn badly on edge and close to the legal limit, which sits within a broader pattern of chassis and emissions defects. Failures in 2022 centred on a detached exhaust gas recirculation valve rod and a broken pipe behind the diesel particulate filter, alongside advisories for an exhaust gas leak and front anti-roll bar play. The 2023 failure flagged four majors on the nearside and offside front suspension: an excessively worn anti-roll bar ball joint, a badly distorted nearside front road wheel, and worn subframe bushes on both sides. The 2024 failure added a split nearside front CV joint boot, a dangerously exposed-cord nearside rear tyre, and a nearside front service brake lagging in operation. The post-2022 trajectory is one of accumulating front-end wear and emissions degradation, with the most recent pass only achieved after significant mechanical rectification. At 296,742 miles over an eight-year life, this Vivaro has averaged approximately 37,093 miles annually, a figure that places it firmly in heavy commercial use territory and well above typical private-car mileage expectations. There are no notable gaps between test dates, with annual tests recorded consistently from 2021 through 2025, indicating the vehicle has been in continuous operation rather than laid up. Mechanically, this rate of accumulation accelerates wear on suspension bushes, anti-roll bar joints, brake discs and pads, constant velocity joints, and clutch or dual-mass flywheel components — many of which have already manifested as advisories or failures in the MOT record. The combination of high mileage and a 2023 suspension failure across multiple components suggests that the front subframe area, in particular, has been subjected to substantial accumulated stress and that further renewal of bushes and anti-roll bar hardware is plausible as the odometer continues to climb. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas are the front suspension and subframe mounting, given the 2023 failure for worn subframe bushes on both sides and the persistent anti-roll bar linkage play recorded as an advisory in 2022. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven roads, particularly at low speed over speed humps and potholes, as this is characteristic of worn subframe bushes allowing the lower arms to shift under load. Pay close attention to steering precision — vague self-centring, excessive play in the steering rack, or uneven tyre wear across the front axle would warrant further investigation of the geometry and the distorted-wheel history. Inspect both front tyres for uneven shoulder wear, which on a vehicle of this mileage often points to worn suspension components rather than simple inflation issues. Examine the CV boots on both sides for any fresh grease deposits or splits, as the 2024 nearside failure indicates this joint has already been replaced; a replacement boot that is now perished again would suggest poor quality parts or aggressive use. The braking system requires particular scrutiny following the 2024 major for a nearside front service brake lagging in operation. On test, apply the brakes firmly from speed and check for any pull to one side, delayed response, or a pedal that requires excessive travel — any of these could indicate a binding or seized caliper, a sticking wheel cylinder, or a flexible hose fault. Given the recorded mileage, expect worn brake discs and pads regardless of MOT outcome, and budget accordingly. The exhaust and emissions system also merits attention: the 2022 failure for a broken pipe behind the DPF and a detached EGR valve rod points to age-related stress on mounting points and flexible sections. On a cold start, listen for any ticking or blowing sounds from beneath the engine bay, and check for visible soot staining around the DPF mounting bracket. Finally, examine the rear tyres carefully for inner-edge wear or cord exposure, as the 2024 dangerous failure and 2025 advisory suggest this axle has been subject to either persistent misalignment or load-related wear that may resurface once the current tyres are replaced.