2017 Vauxhall Adam 1.4L Petrol · OU17 ONL

The defining mechanical concern in this Vauxhall Adam's MOT history is an active braking and stability control issue, evidenced most acutely by the major ABS fault failure recorded on 14 August 2025. While the vehicle subsequently passed its test on 27 November 2025 with no defects recorded, this outcome confirms only that the system was functional at the time of examination; it does not establish the durability of the repair or the root cause of the original warning lamp illumination. The intervening gap of roughly three months between the failure and the pass suggests a post-failure repair, but without accompanying documentation, the nature of that rectification remains unverified. Compounding this concern is a pair of minor advisories from March 2024 affecting both nearside and offside front track rod end ball joint dust covers, which while not yet failing, indicate deterioration of steering linkage sealing components. With the 2023 test also noting front brake disc pitting and corrosion alongside worn tyres, the front-end mechanical picture is one where wear items are progressing in tandem, even if not yet at failure point. Against a nine-year vehicle age, the recorded mileage of 54,085 miles equates to an accumulation rate of roughly 6,009 miles per year, which sits within typical parameters for a small urban-focused hatchback of this type. Testing frequency has been consistent on an annual basis from 2021 onwards, with no extended periods off the road, meaning the wear reflected in the records corresponds to continuous rather than intermittent use. The duplicate test entry on 20 February 2022 — a fail followed immediately by a pass — strongly indicates a same-day rectification of the wiper defect, which is consistent with routine minor repair rather than a systemic concern. The mileage progression between tests appears steady, with no anomalies suggesting clocked or inconsistent readings, and the continuous annual testing pattern reduces the likelihood of significant undocumented deterioration occurring between examinations. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area must be the anti-lock braking system, given the recent major failure. On a test drive, the ABS warning lamp should remain extinguished at ignition and throughout driving; any re-illumination, intermittent flicker, or delay in lamp extinction points to a persistent fault. Pulsation through the brake pedal under firm emergency braking is the expected ABS operation, but any grinding, knocking, or uneven pedal feel suggests hydraulic or modulator issues. Given the 2024 advisories on both front track rod end ball joint dust covers, particular attention should be paid to steering response — listen for clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces, particularly at low speed over speed humps, and feel for any vagueness, free play, or irregular self-centring in the steering wheel, all of which would indicate advancing ball joint wear. A visual inspection should confirm whether replacement of these dust covers has subsequently occurred, as perished covers permit contaminant ingress and accelerated joint deterioration. The 2023 advisories warrant direct verification of current condition. Front brake discs showing pitting and corrosion at that time should now be physically inspected for lipping, surface scoring, and run-out, as pitted surfaces do not self-repair and typically worsen with continued use, potentially requiring machining or replacement before the next MOT. The tyres flagged for cracking, perishing, and edge wear in 2023 will have been replaced at least twice since then, but the wheels and arches should be inspected for any uneven tread wear patterns that might suggest tracking misalignment, suspension geometry issues, or lingering steering component wear. Given the failed windscreen wiper in 2022, confirm current wiper blade condition and effective screen coverage. Finally, a thorough under-bonnet examination for any stored ABS or traction control fault codes via a diagnostic scan is strongly advisable; this would reveal whether the recent repair was a definitive fix or whether intermittent faults remain pending, providing clarity beyond what the visual MOT inspection alone can establish.