2012 Peugeot Partner 1.6L Diesel · ML12 HTC

The defining story of this 2012 Peugeot Partner is a recurring pattern of drivetrain and steering wear, with constant velocity boots appearing in four of the last five tests. The March 2026 test cycle is telling: the van failed on 20 March 2026 with split CV boots on both sides of the prop shaft, an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint, and a defective registration plate lamp, before passing three days later on 23 March 2026. That pass still carried advisories for front brake pads wearing thin, an oil leak, and both rear tyres worn close to the legal limit on their edges. The 2025 test had already flagged a severely deteriorated nearside driveshaft CV boot and slight play in the nearside track rod end, and February 2024 brought a failure for a split offside outer driveshaft boot alongside rear brake pads worn to the indicator. Taken together, the record shows a vehicle that passes its tests but only after repeated rectification of the same families of components, and the trend is one of ongoing wear rather than resolution. Recorded mileage stands at 119,321 miles over roughly fourteen years, averaging about 8,500 miles per year, which is typical for a vehicle of this age and consistent with regular working use. Testing has been annual and largely uninterrupted, with no significant gaps in the record, so there is no evidence of extended lay-up. This steady accumulation is entirely consistent with the wear items flagged: CV boots, ball joints, track rod ends, brake pads and tyres are precisely the consumables that degrade with this kind of mileage, and nothing in the usage pattern suggests abnormal stress beyond ordinary service life. For a prospective buyer, the first priority is the front suspension and steering. The excessively worn nearside ball joint was repaired for the March 2026 pass, but the 2025 advisory for slight play in the nearside track rod end should be checked for progression: on a test drive, listen for a knock or clonk over broken surfaces and feel for any looseness or vagueness through the steering wheel, and with the van stationary have the steering rocked while watching for free play at the track rod end. The repeated CV boot failures on both sides matter because a split boot allows grit into the joint; drive at full lock in both directions in a car park and listen for the characteristic clicking or crunching that signals a worn outer CV joint, which would indicate the damage preceded the boot replacement. Braking and running gear also warrant close attention. Front pads were advisory-thin in both 2024 and 2026, rear pads previously wore to the indicator, and both rear tyres were close to the legal limit with edge wear at the latest pass, so confirm these have been replaced and budget accordingly if not; uneven rear edge wear on a van of this type can also point to rear axle geometry or loading, so inspect tread across the full width. The persistent non-excessive oil leak, noted in both 2025 and 2026, should be traced on inspection, checking around the engine and gearbox for the source and monitoring for drips after a run. Finally, verify the headlamp lenses noted as slightly defective in 2024 have not deteriorated further, and confirm the registration plate lamp repair from the 2026 failure is secure. None of this history is disqualifying, but it describes a van that will need continued attention to steering, drivetrain and braking consumables.