2006 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · AF06 KPP

A twenty-year-old Toyota Yaris with 126,378 miles carries a mixed but notably worsening MOT record, dominated by chronic advisories around underbody corrosion, brake pipe deterioration, suspension wear and a growing number of component failures. The most recent test on 20 May 2026 returned a pass, but it did so with five advisories covering front headlamp lens contamination, general underbody corrosion, an offside front brake pipe coated in grease, an offside front suspension arm bush wearing, and corroded front coil springs on both sides. Earlier in 2025, the vehicle was actually failed on 28 June, with the brake pipe corrosion and underside corrosion noted once again before being passed on retest four days later. A more serious failure followed in March 2024, when a single visit produced one dangerous defect for an offside front tyre below 1.6mm tread, three major defects covering a cut offside rear tyre, an offside front shock absorber fluid leak, an excessively corroded nearside front brake pipe, plus a rear seat belt buckle that had previously been a fail item in March 2023. The overall pattern is of an ageing supermini where advisories on the braking and suspension systems are recurring year after year rather than being resolved. With roughly 6,300 miles accumulated annually across two decades, this Yaris sits broadly in line with average usage for its age, and the relatively even spread of annual tests suggests the car has remained in regular service rather than being laid up for prolonged periods. That said, the appearance of component failures and escalating advisories in the second half of the recorded history, combined with general underside corrosion being flagged twice in twelve months, indicates that the mechanical wear curve is steepening as the car moves deeper into its third decade. Consumable items such as brake pipes, coil springs and suspension bushes typically degrade faster on higher-mileage cars in regions where road salt is used, and the mileage here is sufficient that these wear items will continue to require attention. For a prospective buyer, the brake line corrosion should be the primary inspection focus, given that nearside front, offside front and nearside rear pipes have all been flagged across consecutive years, with the 2024 test recording the nearside front pipe as excessively so. On a physical inspection, the full length of the brake lines should be examined for bubbling paint, white or green crusting along the pipe surface, and any areas where the metal has visibly thinned, particularly along the chassis rails, under the fuel tank and around the flexible hose unions. The 2024 fluid leak from the offside front shock absorber also warrants a check that the replacement unit has not subsequently started to seep; bounce each corner firmly and listen for any clonking over uneven surfaces, which would indicate worn top mounts or ARB drop links in addition to the bushes already flagged. Underneath, expect widespread surface corrosion given the advisory history, but pay particular attention to structural members such as the front subframe, suspension turrets, sill inner sections and rear axle mounting points for any flaking that penetrates the metal thickness. The coil spring advisories on both fronts and the offside front arm bush wear noted in 2026 mean the suspension should be observed carefully on a test drive for any knocking over rough roads, excessive tyre wear on the inner or outer edges, or a tendency for the car to drift in crosswinds. An engine oil leak has been noted twice as a central non-excessive seep, so on inspection check for fresh oil residue around the block-to-bellhousing area and verify that the coolant and underbonnet wiring are clean. Finally, confirm that both rear seat belt buckles latch firmly and retract correctly, given the previous failure on the offside buckle, and inspect all four tyres closely for cuts, bulges or uneven wear, as the 2024 test recorded both a dangerous tread depth issue and a deep cut on the same visit.