2012 Vauxhall Adam 1.4L Petrol · VE62 MZD

The 2012 Vauxhall Adam presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 19 December 2025 at 90,576 miles, passed but carried five separate advisories, indicating the vehicle is at an age and mileage where general wear items require close monitoring. The trend is neither clearly worsening nor resolving. Recurring advisories for worn Macpherson strut top mount bushes appear in both the January 2025 and December 2025 tests, suggesting a persistent suspension wear point that has not been rectified. The December 2025 test also flagged a front sub-frame as corroded, which is a notable structural advisory on a fourteen-year-old car. Oil leaks have been a consistent feature across multiple tests, appearing in December 2023, January 2025, and December 2025, though each time assessed as not excessive. Brake disc wear advisories appeared in January 2023 and December 2025, indicating the braking system is experiencing the kind of surface degradation typical of this mileage. Tyre wear and damage advisories appear frequently, suggesting the previous owner did not prioritise timely replacement of consumable items. Mileage accumulation is broadly typical for the vehicle's age. The car recorded 64,214 miles in January 2022 and reached 90,576 miles by December 2025, representing an increase of approximately 26,362 miles over nearly four years, or roughly 6,590 miles annually. This is consistent with the stated average of 6,470 miles per year and does not indicate unusually heavy use or suspiciously low standing. The MOT record itself is reasonably complete, with tests in January 2022, January 2023, December 2023, January 2025, and December 2025, showing a pattern of annual or near-annual testing without major gaps. The current certificate is dated 19 December 2025, meaning it expired on 18 December 2026, so as of today the vehicle holds a valid MOT. A buyer inspecting this car in person should pay particular attention to the front suspension. The repeated advisory for worn Macpherson strut top mount bushes, present in both 2025 tests, points to a component that will likely need replacement if not already done. The corrosion advisory on the front sub-frame from the December 2025 test warrants a thorough underside inspection, as sub-frame corrosion on a Vauxhall Adam of this age can progress quickly depending on whether the car has been used in salted road conditions. The persistent oil leak, flagged across three separate tests, should be traced to its source, whether that is a valve cover gasket, oil filter housing, or crankshaft seal, since even minor leaks can worsen and contaminate other components. Brake disc condition should be visually checked, as pitted or scored discs were noted in both 2023 and 2025, and the braking system may benefit from a full assessment including pad thickness and caliper operation. Tyre condition should be examined carefully, given the frequency of wear and damage advisories throughout the history, and any uneven wear patterns may confirm the suspension alignment issues implied by the recurring bush wear.