2009 Vauxhall Combo 1.2L Diesel · WP09 XYD

The 2009 Vauxhall Combo presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent test on 12 May 2026 at 113,743 miles resulted in a pass, but only after a failure on the same day for a fractured offside front coil spring. That spring was clearly replaced between the two tests, suggesting a reactive repair rather than proactive upkeep. The overall trend is one of persistent, low-level mechanical wear that is being addressed only when it becomes a test failure. The vehicle is roadworthy today, but the pattern of advisories and recurring faults points to a car that has been run on a tight budget rather than maintained to a preventative standard. The mileage progression is steady and unremarkable. From 109,882 miles in May 2024 to 112,494 miles in May 2025, the car covered 2,612 miles in twelve months. The following year it added just 1,249 miles to reach 113,743 by May 2026. This is a low annual rate, well below the typical 6,691 miles per year implied by the total age. The MOT record is consistent with annual testing and shows no alarming gaps or sudden jumps in usage. Low mileage has not spared the vehicle from wear, however, as the advisory history makes clear. A buyer should focus on the front suspension and steering. Play in the steering rack inner joints has appeared as an advisory in every single test from 2024 through 2026, indicating a long-standing issue that has never been permanently rectified. The fractured coil spring in May 2026 raises questions about the condition of the remaining springs and the front suspension arm, which had an excessively worn ball joint flagged in the 2025 failure. Both front anti-roll bar linkages were noted with slight play in 2024. These components should be physically checked for play and wear, as cumulative looseness in the front end affects handling and tyre wear. The engine sump has been leaking oil since at least 2025, described as corroded and marked dangerous in the May 2025 test. The exhaust front mounting has been defective across multiple tests, with a broken clamp noted in 2025. Brake pipe corrosion appeared in 2024 and a nearside rear pipe was excessively corroded in the 2025 failure, suggesting the braking system has had moisture exposure or underseal degradation. Rear shock absorbers have been misting oil since 2025, and both rear tyres were cracking at the most recent test. These are not catastrophic failures, but they paint a picture of a vehicle where corrosion and consumable wear are being managed at the minimum acceptable level rather than resolved.