2012 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0L Diesel · SK61 CLJ

The vehicle holds a current MOT certificate issued on 6 March 2026 at 172,449 miles, following a failure two days prior on 4 March 2026 for damaged seatbelt buckle and excessively worn front anti-roll bar D-bushes, both of which were rectified before the retest. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but punctuated by recurring advisories rather than systemic neglect. Brake disc wear and pitting, rear shock absorber bush wear, and front sub-frame surface corrosion have appeared consistently across multiple tests. None of these were deemed serious enough to cause failure, yet their persistence suggests a pattern of component monitoring rather than proactive renewal. The March 2026 pass confirms the vehicle met minimum standards at the most recent inspection, but the record indicates a van that has been kept running without fully addressing developing wear items. The mileage progression tells a story of sustained heavy use. Between 1 September 2023 at 160,101 miles and 20 February 2025 at 165,570 miles, the van covered 5,469 miles in roughly seventeen months, then jumped to 172,449 miles by 4 March 2026, adding 6,879 miles in just over thirteen months. That equates to roughly 12,300 miles per year over its life, which is high for a 2012 vehicle and consistent with commercial or long-distance private use. The mileage has remained static at 172,449 miles between the March 2026 failure and pass, confirming the two tests were a failure-and-retest pair rather than reflecting genuine use during that window. No significant gaps appear in the test record, suggesting annual testing has been maintained without long periods off the road. A buyer should pay close attention to the front sub-frame, which the tester flagged as corroded but not seriously weakened in both March 2026 appearances and again in the February 2025 test. Surface corrosion on a sub-frame is common on high-mileage Transporters, but its repeated mention warrants a thorough underside inspection to confirm structural integrity has not deteriorated since March. All four brake discs have shown wear and pitting in the three most recent tests spanning February 2025 through March 2026, indicating the braking system has been operating at the threshold of acceptability for over a year. Replacement discs and pads should be budgeted for unless fresh components are confirmed fitted recently. The rear suspension also merits attention. Both rear lower shock absorber bushes have been flagged as slightly worn in the last two tests, and the front anti-roll bar D-bushes were excessively worn enough to cause the March 2026 failure before being replaced. Combined with the light oil misting noted on the offside front shock absorber in February 2025, this points to a suspension system approaching the end of its serviceable wear cycle. The split rear silencer outer skin first noted in August 2023 may have been replaced, but the exhaust system should be checked for corrosion and integrity underneath. Tyre condition has been a recurring minor concern, with cuts noted on both front tyres in 2023, so sidewall inspection remains worthwhile. Overall, this is a high-mileage working van that has been kept legally roadworthy but shows a pattern of deferring wear-item replacement rather than addressing it pre-emptively.