2018 Toyota Aygo 1.0L Petrol · BP18 AXW

A repeating pattern of front suspension wear dominates the mechanical history of this 2018 Toyota Aygo and is the primary risk a buyer should weigh. On the most recent test on 6 June 2026 the vehicle was refused certification due to a Major defect on the nearside front Macpherson strut pin or bush being excessively worn, with the same test also recording a Pass once that repair is presumably attended to. The earlier 2025 cycle was equally telling, with four Major items at first attempt, including a non-functioning nearside front headlamp on dipped beam, an ineffective front wiper, an insecure offside rear bumper, and a Dangerous nearside front tyre that fell below the 1.6 mm tread requirement, accompanied by an advisory for cracking and perishing on the offside rear tyre. Between these troubled cycles sit two clean Passes in 2021 and 2024 and a single advisory in 2022 for worn, pitted, or scored front brake discs on both sides. The overall trajectory is therefore one of declining roadworthiness, with front-end components, lighting, and tyres repeatedly flagged across consecutive tests. Against an age of roughly eight years, the recorded 49,892 miles equates to an annual accumulation of around 6,200 miles, which sits comfortably within the expected range for a small city car of this type. The mileage progression across tests is steady rather than erratic, with no sudden jumps that would suggest a discrepancy or a change of use, and there is no multi-year gap in testing that might point to extended lay-up. That said, the components now coming up for attention are consistent with a vehicle that has covered its miles predominantly in urban conditions: the Macpherson strut top mount and bushes on the Aygo are known to deteriorate under repeated low-speed turning and kerbing impacts, and the front brake discs show surface corrosion typical of short journeys where pads do not fully clean the rotor face. Given the history of front suspension wear and the failed nearside front strut pin or bush, particular attention must be paid to the front axle on any test drive. Listen for clonking or knocking noises from the nearside front when traversing speed humps, driveway kerbs, or uneven road surfaces, and feel for vagueness or a slight rattle through the steering wheel on rough tarmac. With the vehicle jacked and the wheel removed, the strut top mount, pin, and bush should be physically inspected for splitting, excessive play, or visible corrosion, as the recorded defect specifically concerned wear rather than outright breakage. The 2025 failures on the dipped-beam headlamp and the front wiper mechanism warrant checks that all exterior lights illuminate correctly on main and dipped beam, that the wipers clear the screen without smearing, and that the washers deliver fluid to the screen, as electrical gremlins in ageing Aygo front-end looms can resurface intermittently. The braking and tyre-related history calls for a close inspection of the front discs and the current footwear. The 2022 advisory for pitted and scored front discs means the rotors have now had several years to deteriorate further, and they should be checked for lipping on the outer edge, hot spots visible as a blue discolouration, and any judder felt through the brake pedal under firm application from higher speed. A binding caliper would manifest as a pulling sensation to one side under braking or as a wheel that runs noticeably hotter than the opposite side after a short drive. With a Dangerous tread-depth failure and a perishing advisory both recorded on the previous set of tyres, all four tyres should be examined for their current tread depth, even wear across the tread, sidewall cracking, bulges, or kerb impact damage, and the spare wheel well should be checked for a serviceable replacement. Finally, given the insecure offside rear bumper recorded in 2025, the rear mounting points, bumper retaining clips, and any associated crash damage should be visually confirmed as properly secured, as a previously rushed repair can easily work loose again with normal use.