2004 Daihatsu Extol 1.3L Petrol · NT53 CAX

A 2004 Daihatsu Extel with 135,553 miles carries a documented pattern of rear suspension wear and emerging corrosion on the integral body structure, alongside a recent MOT failure that highlights engine management and exhaust emission concerns. The most recent test on 12 June 2026 was a pass, but only eleven days earlier the same vehicle failed on a major defect for an inoperative or malfunctioning engine management indicator lamp and for excessive carbon monoxide content after the second fast idle. Both of these majors were not rectified prior to the re-test advisories remaining in place, namely the ongoing oil leak and the deteriorated offside and nearside rear suspension arm pins or bushes. Looking back through the record, an advisory for the same rear trailing arm bushes has appeared at every test since April 2022, with the wording progressing from starting to deteriorate to slightly deteriorated and then to deteriorated, which suggests progressive wear on the rear axle mounting components rather than a static condition. Additionally, advisories for corrosion on the rear integral body structure behind the bumper and on the rear crossmember first appeared in April 2024 and recurred in May 2025, with the tester specifically noting that structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at present but that this is an area requiring ongoing monitoring. The recorded mileage of 135,553 miles over approximately 22 years equates to an annual accumulation of around 6,162 miles, which sits broadly within the typical range for a vehicle of this age and indicates fairly regular use rather than long periods of standing. There is a notable gap in the MOT record between April 2022 and April 2024, with no tests recorded during that two-year window, which could reflect either a period off the road under SORN or a change in testing arrangements. The mileage progression across the recorded tests shows steady accumulation without any unusual spikes, suggesting consistent usage rather than high-mileage motorway work followed by extended idleness. This usage profile is mechanically relevant because the rear suspension components, which are flagged at every test, have been subjected to continuous loading, and the underbody corrosion advisories indicate that the rear structure has been exposed to typical road grime and moisture over many years of service. For a prospective buyer, the rear suspension trailing arm bushes should be the primary focus of any inspection, given that this advisory has appeared consistently at five consecutive tests and is showing clear progression in the wording used by testers. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear axle over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and pay particular attention to any vagueness in directional changes at the rear, which can indicate excessive movement in the deteriorated bushes. The vehicle should also be raised on a ramp or examined from underneath to check the rear trailing arm mounting points for visible cracking, distortion, or excessive play in the pins, as the current advisories note that movement is not yet excessive but the trend is clearly downward. Replacing these bushes at the same time as any rear brake or shock absorber work is advisable to avoid duplicated labour costs in the near future. The recurring oil leak advisory, noted at four of the five recorded tests and described as not excessive, warrants identification of the source rather than dismissal, as the location is unspecified in the records and could originate from the engine sump, valve cover gasket, or the gearbox, with the 2025 test specifically referencing a gearbox oil leak. During a test drive, observe whether any drips appear on the driveway after the vehicle has been parked and check the undertray and gearbox housing for fresh oil residue. The rear body corrosion flagged in 2024 and 2025 should be inspected carefully with a torch and ideally with the vehicle on a lift, paying close attention to the rear crossmember, the areas behind the rear bumper, and the inner wheel arches, because once corrosion progresses to the point where structural rigidity is significantly reduced, the vehicle will fail its MOT on safety grounds. Finally, the engine management lamp and exhaust emission failure from June 2026 must be verified as fully rectified with diagnostic evidence rather than assumed resolved, as the advisory for the oil leak suggests the underlying cause may not have been comprehensively addressed before the re-test was carried out eleven days later.