2012 Volkswagen Caddy 1.6L Diesel · PX62 AFV

Chronic corrosion around the rear axle and a set of dangerous brake and tyre defects from mid-2024 define the mechanical character of this high-mileage Caddy. The latest test on 28 July 2026 was a pass, but every item recorded was an advisory, and they are telling ones: both rear brake pads are reported as being on the legal 1.6 mm limit, the outer brake casings on each side are corroded, and the rear anti-roll bar mounting bracket has lost meaningful strength through corrosion. These items were all flagged simultaneously, which is consistent with an under‑body that is on the turn, rather than isolated component wear. It is also worth noting that the vehicle failed its first attempt in June 2024 on a headlamp aim defect, with the second attempt on 13 June 2024 passing only after minor defects were accepted, and the prior test on 10 June 2024 produced two dangerous failures for an exposed ply/cord on the offside front tyre and a seriously weakened offside rear brake disc, alongside advisories for worn tyres and a corroded offside front brake pipe. The trajectory is therefore not one of stable roadworthiness but of an ageing commercial-derived vehicle gradually falling foul of its chassis, braking and rolling stock. The recorded mileage of 175,472 against a 2012 registration works out at roughly 12,500 miles per year on average, which is high even for a Caddy that is likely to have seen fleet or light commercial use. There are no obvious multi-year gaps in the MOT sequence that would suggest long periods off the road, so the accumulation appears to have been broadly continuous and physically demanding, consistent with load-carrying and urban mileage that accelerates wear on clutches, dual-mass flywheels, turbochargers, suspension bushes, and braking components. This kind of annual mileage, sustained over fourteen years, also means that service items not visible on an MOT record, such as timing belt replacement on the 1.6 or 2.0 TDI engines commonly fitted to this model, water pump, dual-mass flywheel and injector balancing, are very likely to be due or overdue. A buyer should treat the odometer reading as a strong prompt to demand a full documented service history rather than relying solely on the MOT file, because the MOT does not record engine internal condition. Given the rear brake, anti-roll bar and brake pipe advisories, a careful inspection underneath the vehicle is essential before purchase. The offside front brake pipe was previously flagged as corroded and packed in grease, a classic stop-gap repair that hides external rust while internal bore corrosion continues, so both front-to-rear and across the axle brake lines should be inspected closely for pitting, rust bloom and previous banding, and the handbrake should be checked for travel and holding on an incline because rear drum or caliper mechanisms on these vehicles seize when used lightly between MOTs. On the road, listen for clonks or shudders from the rear anti-roll bar area when traversing speed humps or broken tarmac, as the corroded mounting bracket implies accelerated wear on the bar bushes and drop links, and feel for any looseness or vibration through the steering that could indicate fatigued front anti-roll bar ball joints, particularly on the nearside where the dust cover was noted as severely deteriorated in 2024. Brake pedal feel should be firm and progressive, with no grinding or judder under load, as the previous offside rear disc was recorded as seriously weakened, and any pulsing through the pedal or steering would warrant immediate re-measurement of both front discs. The dangerous tyre and brake disc failures from June 2024, although rectified to achieve a pass, highlight the need to treat advisory items as urgent on this particular Caddy. Both front and rear tyres were noted as worn to the legal limit or worn on edge, so inspect the shoulder wear pattern across all four tyres because uneven edge wear on a Caddy typically points to worn suspension bushes, weak coil springs, or tracking issues caused by fatigued rear beam bushes. Lift the front nearside CV boot area and check for splits or grease loss, as the offside front inner CV boot was severely deteriorated in 2023 and a split boot will rapidly destroy the joint if not addressed. Finally, examine the rear subframe mounting points, handbrake cables, and exhaust mounting rubbers for corrosion, because the rear anti-roll bar bracket corrosion rarely occurs in isolation, and consider a structural inspection or thorough underbody check by a specialist familiar with VW commercial vehicles before committing to purchase.