2017 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L Diesel · SL17 CSF

A pattern of edge wear across both front and rear tyres is the defining mechanical theme of this Passat's MOT record, with every test since 2023 flagging inner-edge or shoulder wear on the nearside or offside wheels, and the most recent examination on 16 June 2026 issuing advisories against three tyres simultaneously for being worn close to the legal limit. The vehicle has passed every annual test without a single failure, which is reassuring on a binary pass/fail basis, but the recurrence of the same tyre-wear pattern points to an underlying chassis or suspension geometry concern that advisories alone do not capture. Compounding this, the latest test also recorded a pitted and deteriorated inner braking surface on the offside front disc, which is consistent with a caliper that is not releasing cleanly or a slide pin that has begun to seize. The 2024 examination noted light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber, and while this was not repeated in 2026, shocks that have begun to weep oil rarely recover and the absorber should be treated as a service item rather than a guaranteed survivor. With 119,634 miles accumulated over nine years, this Passat is running at roughly 13,300 miles per year, which is well above the national average and places significant cumulative demand on the consumables, suspension, braking system and drivetrain. There are no conspicuous gaps in the testing record and mileage progression between tests is broadly linear, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use rather than left standing for extended periods, which is positive for components such as the 12V battery, brake hydraulics and tyre integrity that suffer from inactivity. However, higher annual mileage of this magnitude accelerates wear on dual-clutch gearboxes, turbocharger seals, engine mounts and rear suspension bushes, none of which are inspected at MOT but which should be regarded as near-term maintenance items on a car of this age and distance covered. A prospective buyer should treat the brake disc advisory as a priority inspection point: on a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding from the offside front corner under light braking, and feel for a pulsing through the pedal that would indicate the disc lip has now worn enough to distort under heat. The pitted inner face is also frequently a symptom of a binding caliper, so when stationary the offside front wheel should spin freely by hand and the caliper slider pins should move without resistance if the wheel is removed. The recurring inner-edge tyre wear is harder to diagnose without a geometry check, but a test drive over undulating B-roads should produce no steering pull to either side and no wandering at motorway speeds; any drift, uneven steering wheel return, or excessive camber wear across a fresh set of tyres would suggest worn front wishbone bushes, top mounts or rear trailing arm bushings that the MOT station cannot fully quantify. The offside rear shock absorber misting recorded two years ago warrants a physical inspection, as a light film can progress to a visible drip within a relatively short mileage span. On the road, press down firmly on each rear corner and release; the car should settle and rebound once, with no continued oscillation that would indicate the damper has lost gas pressure. The 2023 advisory of slight play in the offside rear wheel bearing is also worth rechecking, because a bearing that exhibited play at one test can develop a distinct rumble or drone that changes with cornering loads. Finally, given the high annual mileage, a raised underside inspection using a ramp or pit is strongly advisable to look for oil weepage from the engine sump, gearbox mechatronic connector, and any corrosion forming on the rear subframe or brake pipe runs, all of which become increasingly likely service items on a high-mileage diesel or petrol Passat of this generation.