2010 Vauxhall Combo 1.7L Diesel · ML60 OBR

A serious front suspension and wheel bearing failure on this Vauxhall Combo in late 2021, followed by a clean retest the same day and two subsequent passes with only minor electrical and lighting items, suggests a mechanical profile dominated by intermittent front-end wear rather than chronic structural decline. The 2021 test recorded a dangerous nearside track rod end with ball joint wear severe enough to risk detachment, alongside an offside front wheel bearing with excessive play that impaired directional control, both of which are classic high-mileage light commercial vehicle failures. The fact that the vehicle returned to the road immediately and remained clean through the December 2024 and October 2025 tests indicates that the steering and suspension repairs were carried out properly and have held, though the original defects remain relevant because the components replaced sit in an area subject to continual stress on a heavy payload van. The latest pass on 23 October 2025 with no advisories is encouraging and points to a stable roadworthiness position heading into the next test cycle. Recorded mileage of 201,669 against a 2010 manufacture date equates to roughly 12,600 miles per year over sixteen years, which is elevated for a car but absolutely typical for a working Combo given its commercial origins. The MOT record shows large gaps between tests, with entries only in 2021 and 2024/2025, which is consistent with a vehicle used heavily in working life and then potentially covering lower annual distances more recently. This high accumulated mileage, particularly if much of it was done under load, places the engine, clutch, drivetrain, braking system and front suspension under considerably more stress than the odometer figure alone might suggest on a passenger car. Buyers should expect that consumable wear items have been replaced multiple times and that the underlying structure has already absorbed a full working life of mechanical loading. The track rod end and wheel bearing failures flagged in 2021 are the most instructive items for any prospective buyer, because the surrounding components on a high-mileage Combo often fail in clusters rather than isolation. On a test drive, listen carefully for any clonking or knocking from the front end over speed bumps, rough tarmac or when turning the steering from lock to lock, as this can indicate worn droplinks, anti-roll bar bushes or returning play in the steering rack. With the steering straight, any vibration through the wheel or a wandering, vague feeling off-centre would warrant checking for renewed wheel bearing wear or slack in the track rod joints that may have developed since the 2021 repair. Similarly, uneven or rapidly wearing front tyres, or visible grease around the front hub assemblies, would suggest the wheel bearing replacement may not have been carried out with a proper hub assembly rather than just a bearing re-pack. The advisories from December 2024 regarding inoperative reverse lights and slightly defective front headlamp lenses are minor in isolation but worth addressing before purchase, as lighting defects are common MOT failures on vans of this age and corroded lamp connectors are typical on light commercials that have seen winter use. On inspection, verify that both reverse lights illuminate crisply and check the front headlamp lenses for moisture ingress, internal misting or silvering, which on a vehicle of this age and mileage is often a sign that the polycarbonate has degraded and full replacement may be the only long-term remedy. Given the overall mileage and the history of front-end wear, it is also prudent to carry out a thorough under-bonnet check for any signs of oil seepage from the cam cover or sump, condition of the coolant hoses, and to ensure the steering rack gaiters are intact, as the track rod end failure suggests this area has already been worked on and any split gaiters would now accelerate further wear.