2016 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0L Diesel · OY66 VAV

A fractured rear coil spring recorded as a Major defect on the most recent test on 2 December 2025 is the defining mechanical finding in this Transporter's history and it warrants careful attention before purchase. The same test that flagged the broken spring was marked as a pass on the same date, which suggests a same-day repair and re-test was conducted and the outcome has since been confirmed as passed with no defects recorded. Beyond that, the broader pattern is mixed rather than spotless: there was a previous failure in June 2022 for an offside headlamp aim defect and an obstruction in the driver's swept windscreen area, plus an earlier failure in July 2021 for a non-functioning nearside side repeater bulb. Earlier tests in 2023 and 2024 returned clean passes with no advisories, so the spring fracture stands out as a discrete late-life event rather than evidence of chronic structural decline, but it does indicate that the suspension is now into a phase where wear items are beginning to fail outright rather than merely approach advisory thresholds. Mileage accumulation across the recorded tests is broadly consistent with average use for a ten-year-old commercial-derived vehicle, at roughly 10,800 miles per year. The intervals between tests show no obvious prolonged gaps that would imply extended lay-ups, and there are no sudden unexplained mileage jumps between consecutive tests. That said, a Transporter at 108,217 miles has covered significant ground and the wear implications are concentrated in exactly the components that have started to attract advisories: rear brake pads, anti-roll bar linkages and now the coil springs themselves. Commercial-style use, even at modest annual mileages, tends to load the rear axle heavily through cargo or passenger-carrying duties, and this is consistent with the rear-end advisories and the rear coil spring failure that has emerged. A prospective buyer should focus their inspection on the rear suspension in particular, since that is where the recorded defect has occurred and where commercial Transporter loading typically accelerates component fatigue. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear over uneven surfaces or speed humps, which would suggest the replacement spring is of correct rate or that the opposite-side spring may also be approaching failure; coil springs in this generation of T6 can fracture without prior warning, so a bouncy or sagging rear ride height is a warning sign. Pay close attention to the anti-roll bar D bushes that were flagged on the nearside front in 2021, as worn but not excessive movement at the time can progress: feel for vagueness or a delay in the front end responding to steering inputs, and listen for a dull rattle over rough roads that would indicate the bush has now worn past its serviceable limit. The braking system has attracted rear pad advisories on multiple occasions from 2021 onwards, so the buyer should confirm when the rear pads and discs were last renewed and inspect the rear calipers for binding or seized slider pins, which would explain uneven pad wear and lead to rear-end pull under braking. On test, the vehicle should track straight under firm braking without any pulling to one side, and the pedal should feel firm without excessive travel or judder that would suggest warped rear discs. With the rear seat belt check having been previously prevented by folded seats, the buyer should manually unfold and test all rear belts for full retraction and latch function. The headlamp aim and windscreen swept area items from 2022 are minor in the context of an MOT re-test, but it is worth confirming the headlamp alignment is within tolerance and that any dashboard-mounted devices or accessories do not encroach on the swept area as defined by the tester's reference points, as these are common reasons for an avoidable failure at the next test.