2011 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L Diesel · RO61 EYL

The most recent MOT, conducted on 30 June 2025 at 112,617 miles, shows a clear pattern of deterioration followed by a partial recovery. The initial test on that date resulted in a failure, with both front suspension arm pins or bushes flagged as excessively worn, a non-functioning nearside stop lamp, and an inoperative engine MIL. The retest, passed on the same day at the identical mileage, indicates these specific safety-critical items were rectified. However, the advisories carried forward from the failure — slight play in both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, a worn offside front upper Macpherson strut bush, and worn front brake discs — were not resolved, only deemed not severe enough to fail the vehicle. The maintenance trend is therefore stable but unresolved, with a history of recurring suspension wear that the owner has managed reactively rather than proactively. The mileage accumulation of roughly 7,500 miles per year is entirely typical for a 2011 Passat of this age. The record shows a jump of approximately 9,150 miles between the March 2023 test at 97,884 miles and the June 2024 test at 107,036 miles, representing a slightly busier 15-month period. The most recent year, from June 2024 to June 2025, saw the vehicle cover just 5,581 miles, a notable reduction that may reflect lighter use or a period of reduced driving. There are no alarming gaps in the testing record itself, with annual tests conducted consistently, though the sparse entry for 2023 means there is a longer-than-usual interval between that test and the next in mid-2024. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and steering components during any in-person inspection. The repeated appearance of worn anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, suspension arm bushes, and Macpherson strut bushes across multiple tests suggests these are a chronic weak point on this particular car. While the June 2025 pass confirms the worst excesses were addressed, the advisories indicate the front end is in a state of ongoing wear. The front brake discs were flagged as worn in the latest test, and combined with the suspension history, this points to a car that may need another round of front-end consumable work within the next year or two. The nearside rear tyre noted as perishing in the 2025 failure was replaced for the retest, but a thorough check of all tyre sidewalls and dates is advisable given the age of the vehicle. The inoperative engine MIL from the 2025 failure is a concern worth investigating, as it could indicate a fault that was temporarily cleared rather than properly diagnosed, potentially masking an emissions or engine management issue that could resurface at the next test.