2017 Toyota Aygo 1.0L Petrol · YJ17 ABB

The most recent DVSA examination on 4 June 2026 resulted in a Pass, but it was achieved only after a prior failure at the same station on 3 June 2026 where an offside front suspension arm pin or bush was recorded as excessively worn under the Major defect category 5.3.4 (a) (i). That component was clearly renewed or repaired between the two tests, as the retest carried no advisories relating to the offside front arm. Nonetheless, the same test produced four advisories: corrosion to the nearside front suspension arm, corrosion to both front Macpherson struts, and a worn nearside front brake disc. Looking at the wider history, the 2022 through 2025 tests were clean of advisories, meaning the cluster of suspension corrosion and brake wear items represents a recent deterioration rather than a long-standing pattern. The maintenance trend therefore appears to be on a downward slope at the front axle, with corrosion and component wear now starting to surface as the vehicle enters its tenth year. The recorded mileage of 27,057 miles over nine years equates to an average of roughly 3,000 miles annually, which is well below the typical figure for a city car of this type and indicates either light private use, short journeys, or extended periods of standing. Such low annual usage means that wear-related items such as the clutch, engine internals and transmission fluid are unlikely to be heavily stressed, but it does heighten the risk of calendar-based deterioration. Brake discs and calipers can corrode and seize from inactivity, tyre sidewalls can perish regardless of tread depth, rubber bushes and dampers can dry out and crack, and the 12 volt battery will have suffered repeated shallow discharge cycles from short trips. Any extended gaps between MOTs visible in the mileage record should be examined, as standing periods accelerate corrosion on exposed suspension components, which is consistent with the advisories now being recorded on the front struts and arm. For a physical inspection, particular attention should be directed at the front suspension, which is now the focal point of the MOT record. The nearside front arm is showing corrosion and the offside arm recently required replacement of a worn pin or bush, so both arms and their bushes should be checked for play by rocking the wheels and listening for clonks or knocking over uneven surfaces. The Macpherson strut corrosion advisories should be examined for any surface pitting that could migrate toward the spring seat or top mount; on a test drive, any knocking from the front end over speed humps or a vagueness in the steering response would suggest the struts themselves may be deteriorating. The nearside front brake disc should be inspected for a corroded lip, uneven wear or any visible step on the edge, as a worn disc can produce brake shudder, vibration through the pedal, or squeal under light braking. The anti-roll bar linkage bushes flagged previously should also be rechecked for excess movement. Beyond the recorded defects, the age and very low mileage of this Aygo warrant a number of standalone checks that would not normally be flagged by MOT data alone. Tyre sidewalls should be examined closely for perishing or cracking, as rubber degrades regardless of use and the 2024 test recorded damage to all four tyres at that time, raising the likelihood of replacement tyres that may now be several years old. Brake caliper slide pins and handbrake mechanisms should be freed off and inspected for seizure, given the low mileage and likely short journeys that encourage corrosion and binding. Service history stamps should be verified to confirm that engine oil and filter, coolant, brake fluid and spark plugs have been changed on a time rather than mileage basis, as the latter two are typically due every two to four years irrespective of annual use. The 12 volt battery should be load tested, as a nine year old unit or one repeatedly discharged by short trips is a common failure point, and the exhaust system, undertray and rear suspension should be checked for rust given the car is now in its tenth year on UK roads.