1998 Toyota Hilux 2.4L Diesel · S783 ETO

The 1998 Toyota Hilux holds a valid MOT pass dated 15 May 2026 at 199,781 miles, but the underlying maintenance trend has deteriorated from the clean records of 2023 to 2025. Two days earlier, on 13 May 2026 at 199,780 miles, the vehicle failed on offside rear fog lamp, registration plate lamp, suspension arm ball joint dust cover breach, and excessively corroded offside rear spring mounting reducing structural strength at the outer sill. The subsequent pass cleared those items yet carried forward advisories for engine oil leak, rear differential oil leak, frayed seat belt webbing, insecure direction indicator, and slight play in the nearside front drag link ball joint. Recurring leaks and steering play reveal creeping mechanical neglect despite the owner's swift rectification of compliance failures. Recorded mileage of 199,781 against twenty eight years of age averages near 7,135 miles per year, a figure typical for a light duty Hilux. The DVSA timeline shows 189,719 miles in June 2023, 192,758 by July 2024, 194,128 in June 2025, and a final rise to 199,780 in May 2026. The July 2024 test advised slight play in both front wheel bearings, a defect that vanished from subsequent passes implying resolution. Annual increments stayed below six thousand miles with no abrupt accumulation or dormant gaps. Sparse entries and two clean passes before 2026 suggest the previous keeper used the truck infrequently and addressed routine faults only when forced. A buyer must physically inspect the offside rear outer sill and spring mounting for residual corrosion or poor repair quality, since the failure cited significant structural reduction that disappeared from the pass record without documented treatment. Persistent engine and rear.