2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5L Petrol · OV20 YBM

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan presents a mixed maintenance picture. Its most recent MOT on 8 January 2026 at 41,850 miles passed, but only after a failure five days earlier at 41,845 miles. That failure flagged rear brake pads below 1.5 mm and a structurally bulging nearside front tyre, both of which were rectified before the retest passed the same day. The pass also carried three advisories: front brake pads wearing thin, front brake discs worn, pitted or scored, and front lower suspension arm pins or bushes worn. The trend is not clearly improving or worsening. The car went from a clean pass in January 2023 at 15,863 miles to advisories on brakes and suspension by January 2026, suggesting consumable wear has accumulated over the last three years without a serious structural failure. The mileage progression tells a straightforward story. The car covered 15,863 miles between January 2023 and January 2024, then 8,805 miles by January 2025, and 6,440 miles by January 2026. Annual use has dropped from roughly 15,000 miles to under 7,000 miles, which may explain why wear items like brake pads and bushes are only now reaching advisory thresholds. There are no glaring gaps in the record, and the current 41,850 miles is broadly typical for a six-year-old vehicle. The lower recent mileage does not automatically mean the car has been idle for long periods, but it does mean corrosion from short trips and standing should be checked. A buyer should focus on the front suspension and braking system. The recurring advisory on front lower suspension arm pins or bushes, noted in the January 2026 pass, suggests the front end has seen enough wear to warrant physical inspection for play, knocking, or uneven tyre wear. The front brake discs were flagged as worn, pitted or scored at the same test, and the pads were described as thin. These are consumables, but the combination hints at harder use or a lack of earlier intervention. The rear pads were replaced after the January 2026 failure, so they should be near new, yet a buyer should verify rear caliper operation and handbrake function given the severity of the original failure. The bulging nearside front tyre from the failed test has been replaced, but a buyer should check all four tyres for age, sidewall condition, and matching specification, especially if the car has spent recent months covering shorter, low-speed journeys.