2017 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · W90 ACB

A clear pattern of recurring front suspension wear and rear parking brake defects dominates the MOT history of this 2017 Volkswagen Polo, with the most recent test on 22 August 2026 recording a Dangerous failure for nearside front brake pads worn below 1.5 mm, alongside advisories for a worn front lower suspension arm pin or bush and both front tyres worn close to the legal limit on their edges. The same date shows the vehicle subsequently passed once those dangerous defects were presumably rectified, but the underlying pattern is concerning. The 2024 test produced Major failures for an excessively worn offside front suspension arm pin or bush and an inoperative offside rear parking brake, with parking brake efficiency also below requirements. A repeat parking brake failure appeared in October 2025, again with Major advisories for the offside rear mechanism and overall efficiency below requirements, suggesting that the rear handbrake issue has not been durably resolved across three consecutive test cycles. While intervening tests in 2022, 2023, and 2024 passed without defects of note, the frequency of suspension and brake-related Major and Dangerous items warrants close mechanical scrutiny. Annual mileage accumulation of roughly 8,377 miles over nine years sits broadly in line with typical usage for a vehicle of this age, indicating neither prolonged standing nor exceptionally high wear accumulation. Tests have been carried out consistently each year since 2022, so there are no extended gaps suggesting the car was off the road, stored, or potentially exposed to long-term deterioration through inactivity. This continuous usage pattern means components have been worked regularly, which generally helps prevent issues such as seized calipers or flat-spotted tyres, but it also confirms that wear items have accumulated steadily across the full mileage spectrum rather than being concentrated after a lay-up. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension and brake components flagged in the record should form the focus of any physical inspection and test drive. With advisories recorded for the nearside front lower suspension arm rear bush, and a previous Major failure for the offside front arm pin or bush, the front suspension geometry should be checked for knocking or clonking over uneven surfaces, vague steering response, or uneven tyre wear across both front wheels, since worn bushes frequently produce imprecise handling and accelerated edge wear on the tyres themselves, as already observed in the latest advisories. The brake pedal should feel firm without excessive travel, and any pulling to one side under firm braking could indicate a binding or partially seized caliper, particularly given the dangerous brake pad wear recorded in August 2026. With brake pads having reached the dangerous threshold at under 1.5 mm, the front discs should also be measured for remaining material and checked for lipping or scoring. The rear parking brake requires particular attention, as Major failures for an inoperative offside rear parking brake and overall efficiency below requirements have appeared in both 2024 and 2025, and a retest on the same day in 2025 still recorded a Major defect before passing on the second attempt. On a test drive, the handbrake should hold the vehicle firmly on a moderate incline with the lever travel within a normal range, and any failure to hold, excessive ratchet travel, or one-sided engagement could indicate a stretched rear cable, seized rear caliper mechanism, or worn shoe material. Additionally, the 2023 advisories for perished or cracked rear tyres and the latest advisories for both front tyres worn close to the limit on their edges suggest tyre replacement should be factored into immediate running costs, and a close inspection of the sidewalls for cracking would be prudent given the vehicle's nine-year age.