2009 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · SM09 VEU

The vehicle presents a concerning roadworthiness profile, characterized by a reactive approach to maintenance rather than preventative care. While it passed its last recorded test in March 2022 at 64,253 miles, there is no recorded data for over four years. Given the current date of June 2026, the vehicle is long lapsed out of its valid MOT period. The historical trend shows a pattern of multiple failures related to critical safety and mechanical components, suggesting that the previous owner only addressed faults when forced to by a testing failure. At 17 years old, the 64,253 miles are exceptionally low, averaging approximately 3,780 miles per year. This low usage often leads to the degradation of rubber-based components regardless of mechanical wear. The record shows a significant gap in activity between early 2020 and 2022, where only 3,653 miles were covered over two years. This pattern of sitting is consistent with the findings of perishing tyres, perished bushes, and deteriorated dust covers noted in the 2020 and 2022 tests. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the suspension and braking systems due to recurring issues. The tester flagged excessive play in the offside front track rod end in 2022, following reports of worn arm bushes and anti-roll bar ball joint covers in 2020. The history also notes binding rear brakes and pitted brake discs, which indicate the braking system may suffer from corrosion from lack of use. The misting on the offside rear shock absorber noted in 2022 should be checked for active leaks or failure. Structural attention is also required regarding the exhaust system, as corrosion on the rear exhaust box was identified in 2020. The repeated failures for structural tyre tears and bulges suggest the tyres were likely failing due to age rather than tread wear. Given the four-year gap in MOT records, the vehicle likely requires a comprehensive overhaul of all rubber components and fluid systems before it can be considered roadworthy again.