2007 Volkswagen Touran 2.0L Diesel · VU07 OCM

A clear pattern of front suspension wear emerges from the MOT history of this 2007 Volkswagen Touran, with both nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes flagged as worn on three separate occasions (2020, 2022, and 2023), suggesting persistent degradation of the front lower arm bushings rather than a one-off observation. The most recent test on 6 April 2023 returned a pass, but it carried four advisories, two of which related to front tyres worn close to the legal limit and on edge, alongside the recurring suspension advisories. A more serious concern sits in the 2018 test, where the vehicle failed on an airbag warning lamp fault and a non-functioning rear fog lamp, indicating an intermittent supplementary restraint system issue that may have recurred. The supplementary restraint system failure is a notable point: SRS warning lamp faults can stem from clock spring degradation, seat belt pretensioner wiring faults, or crash sensor issues, and these faults sometimes return after repair, so verifying the diagnostic history and any rectification work is essential. With 176,195 miles recorded across approximately 19 years of age, the vehicle has covered around 9,273 miles per year on average, which sits broadly within the expected band for a diesel family MPV of this vintage. The MOT testing record shows annual tests between 2018 and 2023, with no extended gaps in testing that would suggest long periods off the road, although there is a notable stretch between the 2016 test and the 2018 tests, with mileage progression and usage appearing broadly consistent with regular driving rather than any erratic accumulation. Mileage of this magnitude places meaningful wear on items such as clutch assemblies, dual mass flywheels, turbochargers, engine mounts, and automatic transmission components if so equipped, none of which fall under MOT scope but which should be considered separately during a pre-purchase inspection. Given the recurring front suspension arm bush advisories across multiple years, particular attention should be paid during a test drive to any knocking or clonking noises from the front end when traversing speed bumps, potholes, or uneven surfaces, as well as vague or imprecise steering response and uneven front tyre wear which often accompanies worn lower arm bushings. On inspection, the front control arms and their rear bushes should be physically checked for splitting, perishing, or excessive play, and any movement beyond a few millimetres suggests replacement is imminent. The 2020 advisories also noted perished rear anti-roll bar stabiliser rubbers on both sides, so listen for rear-end clonks over undulations and inspect the rear anti-roll bar drop links and bushes for deterioration. Given the 2018 supplementary restraint system failure, it is prudent to confirm that the airbag warning lamp remains extinguished at ignition on, and to ask for evidence of any diagnostic work or component replacement that addressed the original fault, as SRS electrical faults can be intermittent and costly to remedy if a clock spring or wiring loom issue has re-emerged. Finally, a thorough road test should include firm pedal application to check for binding calipers or pulling under braking, given the 2020 advisory noting the parking brake efficiency only just met the required standard, and a visual inspection of the rear brake shoes or caliper mechanisms for seized adjusters.