A common fault is that the top ball joint on the front suspension fails (an MOT fail, too). Due to a design flaw, the pinch bolt holding the plot together corrosion-welds itself solid, and usually can't be replaced without removing the front suspension from the car, and cutting one of the suspension arms.
Budget £4-500 per side parts & labour for this. Oddly, this is one of those jobs were it's probably cheaper to have a VW main dealer do it, as it's a common problem. When this joint failed on my 2003 Passat, the VW dealer's quote was £100 cheaper than my local, trusted independent: it's a pig of a job.
See if the service record mentions any front ball joint replacements!
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