2011 Vauxhall Combo 1.2L Diesel · MF11 WTT

The 2011 Vauxhall Combo passed its most recent MOT on 14 May 2026 at 158,474 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is neither stable nor fully resolving. The latest test flagged five advisories, including worn front tyres, slight play in the offside front suspension arm ball joint, both wiper blades defective, and a corroded rear exhaust system. These are not new problems. The same steering rack play, corroded coil springs, and exhaust corrosion have appeared repeatedly across multiple tests, suggesting underlying wear and corrosion have been managed rather than permanently fixed. The vehicle remains roadworthy today, but the accumulation of advisories points to a van that has been kept running with ongoing monitoring rather than proactive renewal of worn components. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with typical use for a 15-year-old light commercial vehicle. Between the March 2023 test at 134,274 miles and the May 2026 test at 158,474 miles, the van covered roughly 24,200 miles in just over three years, averaging around 8,000 miles annually. The jump from 139,641 miles in March 2024 to 144,699 miles in May 2025 shows a slightly busier period at approximately 5,000 miles in 14 months. There are no alarming gaps or sudden spikes in the odometer record, and the overall annual distance of roughly 10,500 miles aligns with the expected profile for a working van of this age. The record is complete and continuous, with no missing years, which supports a consistent pattern of use rather than long periods of neglect. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and steering. Inner play in the steering rack inner joints was flagged in the March 2024 failure and again as advisories in the May 2025 and May 2026 tests. This recurring play indicates progressive wear in the steering rack or inner track rod ends that has not been replaced. The offside front suspension arm ball joint also showed slight play in the most recent test, adding to the picture of front-end wear. These items directly affect steering precision and should be inspected for excessive movement on a raised suspension, with particular attention to the condition of gaiters and joints. The rear of the van warrants equal scrutiny. The offside rear coil spring was noted as corroded in May 2025, and a fractured nearside front coil spring caused a failure in March 2024, suggesting corrosion is an ongoing issue across the suspension. The rear exhaust system was flagged as corroded in the latest test, following a major leak and missing rear box in the 2024 failure. A replacement section may have been fitted, but the reappearance of corrosion raises questions about the quality of repair and the condition of the full exhaust run. Brake wear has been intermittent, with inner pads noted as thin in 2025, and both front tyres continue to wear unevenly on their edges, which is consistent with the worn suspension and steering components already identified. A thorough underbody inspection, a road test for steering vagueness, and a check for exhaust gas leaks at the rear box are essential before purchase.