2016 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L Diesel · RF16 EPZ

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf passed its most recent MOT on 9 January 2026 at 95,666 miles, but the record reveals a clear and worsening trend in braking and wheel condition. After three consecutive clean passes from January 2022 through January 2024, the last two tests have flagged a cluster of new defects. The tester noted front inner brake pads wearing thin at approximately 3mm, an offside rear pad in a similar state, a worn rear outer brake disc, and a nearside rear inner tyre worn to 2.5mm with a stepped inside edge. Two inner road wheels are also recorded as slightly distorted. These are not isolated advisories. The rear brake disc wear first appeared in the January 2025 test at 89,032 miles and has persisted, suggesting either a sticking caliper, a binding handbrake mechanism, or a habitual failure to replace discs and pads as a matched set. Combined with the tyre and wheel damage, the pattern points to deferred maintenance rather than simple age-related wear. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with typical use for a ten-year-old car, averaging roughly 9,500 miles per year. The vehicle covered 6,634 miles between January 2022 and January 2023, then 8,416 miles to January 2024, before a sharper step up to 7,634 miles in the single year leading to January 2025. The most recent annual interval between January 2025 and January 2026 shows a marked slowdown to 6,634 miles. There are no gaps in the annual test sequence, so the record is complete, but the drop in recent mileage raises the possibility of prolonged periods standing, which can itself cause flat-spotting of tyres and surface corrosion on brake discs. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the entire rear braking system. The recurring rear disc wear and the new inner pad advisories demand a close look at caliper slide pistons, handbrake adjusters, and the condition of the rear disc faces for scoring or lipping. The two distorted inner wheels, one at the front nearside and one at the rear nearside, should be checked for cracks or kerb damage, and the tyre fitment inspected for incorrect indexing or prior repairs. Given the stepped tyre wear on the nearside rear, a full suspension geometry check is advisable to rule out a worn trailing arm bush or a misaligned axle. Surface corrosion on subframes and suspension mounting points should also be examined, as these are common failure areas on the Mk7 Golf beyond 80,000 miles. The January 2026 pass is valid, but the defects recorded at that test are not minor consumable items. They are indicators that the braking and wheel assemblies require immediate attention before the car can be considered properly maintained.