2016 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · MH65 YEE

The 2016 Volkswagen Polo presents a mixed maintenance picture, with a clear downward trend in suspension and braking condition that a buyer should treat as a caution flag. The most recent MOT on 16 October 2025 at 72,516 miles passed, but the tester flagged a Nearside Rear Shock absorber with reduced damping effect under item 5.3.2 (d). That is a step change from the earlier advisory on 15 October 2024 at 67,787 miles, where the same unit only had a light oil misting under 5.3.2 (b). In simple terms, the rear damping fault has progressed from minor seepage to a measurable loss of function within roughly a year and 4,700 miles. The front suspension also shows a pattern of wear, with perished rear bushes on both sides noted in the 30 October 2023 test at 60,237 miles. There is no subsequent record confirming renewal of those bushes, so the condition may have deteriorated further. Mileage accumulation is broadly typical for a ten-year-old Polo. Between the 28 October 2022 failure at 53,400 miles and the 16 October 2025 pass at 72,516 miles, the car covered roughly 19,100 miles in just under three years, averaging about 6,400 miles per year. That is slightly below the stated 7,252 miles per year lifetime average, suggesting the car has seen lighter recent use or possibly longer periods standing. The record is fairly continuous with no large unexplained gaps, but the drop in annual mileage since 2022 may also mean shorter, more frequent trips, which can accelerate corrosion and localised wear on brakes and dampers. From a mechanical risk perspective, the repeated shock absorber and suspension bush issues point to a car that has not had its front end properly sorted despite advisories. Perished bushes and a weakening rear damper can affect tyre wear, steering precision, and braking stability, especially over uneven surfaces. The October 2022 failure is also relevant: all four brake discs were flagged as worn, pitted or scored and lipped, and the parking brake failed efficiency requirements. The subsequent tests do not explicitly re-record those defects, but the record does not confirm whether the discs and parking brake components were replaced or merely re-machined. A buyer should therefore inspect the front suspension arm bushes, ball joints, and track rod ends, and check whether the brake discs, pads, and parking brake mechanism have been renewed or are still the same items that failed in 2022. Corrosion and structural condition cannot be fully judged from this record. The absence of any rust-related advisory is encouraging, but the Polo's age and the suspension wear pattern mean an underside inspection is worthwhile. Look for corrosion on subframes, brake lines, and mounting points, as well as uneven tyre wear that could confirm unresolved front-end geometry issues. The recurring shock absorber faults and the older brake and bush advisories suggest a vehicle that has been run rather than actively maintained. It may still be roadworthy today, but it is likely to need further investment in suspension and braking components in the near term.