2020 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI 2.0L Diesel · ML20 XDV

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI presents a mechanically sound roadworthiness profile overall, though the maintenance trend reveals a recurring and unresolved tyre vulnerability that warrants scrutiny. The most recent test on 17 February 2026 at 123,791 miles passed, but the tester flagged a nail in the nearside rear tyre. This is the third identical puncture advisory in the record, following the same defect on 3 September 2025 at 113,589 miles and again on 14 June 2024 at 81,065 miles. The pattern is stable in that the car consistently passes its MOT, yet the repeated nearside rear punctures suggest either an unfortunate route-specific hazard or a neglected tyre with compromised structural integrity that has not been replaced. Brake condition appears manageable. The only braking advisory came on 18 June 2025 at 109,658 miles for rear pads wearing thin, a consumable item that was evidently rectified before the September 2025 pass. No further brake, suspension, exhaust, or structural defects have been recorded across the five-test history. The mileage accumulation is notably high for a six-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 20,632 miles per year. The record shows a particularly steep climb between 5 June 2023 at 59,351 miles and 14 June 2024 at 81,065 miles, adding 21,714 miles in just over twelve months. The pace then moderated but remained substantial, with 28,524 miles covered between June 2024 and September 2025, and a further 10,202 miles added between September 2025 and February 2026. This profile is consistent with sustained motorway or long-distance fleet use, which places accelerated wear on drivetrain mounts, suspension bushes, brake discs, and the diesel particulate filter regeneration system. The gap between the February 2026 test and today's date of 18 June 2026 is four months, during which no further MOT has been recorded, so the current condition remains unverified. A buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the nearside rear tyre and wheel. Three punctures in the same tyre over eighteen months raises the question of whether the tyre has been repeatedly repaired rather than replaced, potentially breaching sidewall integrity. Check the date code and tread depth, and confirm whether the tyre is a matching pair on the rear axle. Beyond the tyre, the high annual mileage demands attention to front and rear suspension components, specifically anti-roll bar drop links, track rod ends, and wishbone bushes, which deteriorate faster under sustained motorway loading. Inspect the rear brake discs for lipping and uneven wear, given the prior advisory, and verify that the exhaust system, including the DPF and EGR valve, has not suffered from incomplete regeneration cycles typical of mixed-use diesel driving. The TPMS light advisory from June 2024 also suggests the system should be interrogated for sensor faults. Overall, the MOT record is clean for a car of this mileage, but the tyre pattern is the single most telling indicator of how attentively this Passat has been maintained.