1990 Toyota HI-ACE 3.0L Diesel · H823 UAW

The vehicle shows a concerning history of structural corrosion and recurring mechanical wear. While it passed its MOT on 17 July 2026 at 161,268 miles, this followed a significant failure just nine days prior. The July 2026 failure highlighted excessive corrosion on both the nearside and offside rear outer suspension component mounting areas, which had significantly reduced structural strength. Although these were addressed to secure the pass, the current record still notes corrosion on the chassis and structure within 30cm of a mounting and corroded rear suspension components, suggesting the structural decay is active and not an isolated issue. At 36 years old, the recorded mileage of 161,268 miles represents an average of approximately 4,480 miles per year. This low usage often correlates with the degradation of rubber-based components, which is evident in this record. The tester flagged consistent issues with perishing or cracking on nearside rear tyres and deteriorated valve stems between 2025 and 2026. Furthermore, the front upper suspension arm ball joints and lower suspension arm bushes have shown slight play or wear across multiple years, indicating that the suspension components are reaching the end of their functional life despite the low mileage. Maintenance patterns appear reactive rather than proactive. The vehicle failed multiple tests for basic items like inoperable registration plates, inoperative lamps, and defective wipers, which were only corrected immediately before the pass. The braking system also shows signs of neglect, with thin pads and pitted, scored discs noted in the July 2026 failure, alongside front brake hoses showing signs of ferrule corrosion. A buyer should prioritize a thorough structural inspection of the sills and mounting points, as the history of holes and reduced structural strength indicates the vehicle is susceptible to advanced rust.