2016 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6L Diesel · SW16 FLM

The 2016 Vauxhall Vivaro presents a mixed maintenance picture that has improved significantly in its most recent test. The October 2025 pass at 96,381 miles recorded zero defects, a clean sheet that suggests the previous owner addressed a substantial backlog of faults. The trend is therefore resolving, but only after a serious failure in October 2024 at 84,633 miles that flagged corrosion, brake imbalance, binding calipers, and critical steering and suspension wear. The November 2024 retest still noted perishing rear tyres, indicating basic consumable upkeep remained inconsistent even after the major faults were cleared. The mileage accumulation of roughly 9,600 miles per year is typical for a commercial van of this age, and the record shows no suspicious gaps. The 2024 failure occurred just 20 days before the retest, confirming the faults were rectified promptly rather than ignored. The 2023 and 2022 tests show a pattern of gradual suspension component wear, with anti-roll bar bushes and linkings flagged as early as 2022 at 67,413 miles and recurring in 2023 at 77,784 miles. This is normal wear for a working van, but the 2024 failure introduced more concerning items, including corroded brake pipes across multiple circuits and excessively worn front suspension ball joints and track rod ends, which are safety-critical steering components. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering linkage, given the 2024 failure for a worn offside front ball joint and track rod end. Check for play in all front track rod ends, suspension arm ball joints, and anti-roll bar D-bushes, which have shown progressive wear across multiple tests. Examine the brake pipe runs for fresh replacements or signs of ongoing corrosion, particularly at the front-to-rear junction at the rear. Inspect both front brake discs for scoring or lipping and test the handbrake and footbrake for imbalance or binding, as rear brake issues were flagged in both 2022 and 2024. The rear tyres have repeatedly appeared for perishing and low tread, so check the date codes and sidewalls carefully, especially if the van has been standing for long periods between uses.