2007 Daihatsu Terios 1.5L Petrol · CP57 EFJ

This 2007 Daihatsu Terios passed its most recent MOT on 18 May 2026 at 157,336 miles, yet the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The latest test flagged corrosion on both front brake pipes, slight corrosion on all brake hose ferrules, worn front suspension arm pins and bushes on both sides, and worn anti-roll bar linkage pins and bushes on both sides. Two separate advisories noted corrosion on the front and rear integral body structure at the spring towers and suspension mounting areas, with the underside described as covered in surface corrosion. These are not isolated new findings. They represent a steady accumulation of age-related deterioration that the tester repeatedly downplays as not yet critical but which, taken together, signals declining structural and braking integrity. The mileage pattern is broadly consistent with light annual use of roughly 8,281 miles per year. The car covered 3,699 miles between the May 2025 pass at 153,637 miles and the May 2026 pass at 157,336 miles, a normal annual increment. No large gaps or sudden jumps appear in the record, so there is no evidence of long-term standing or odometer anomalies. The MOT history itself is dense, with tests recorded almost annually and two failures in 2024 and 2025 that were subsequently retested and passed within days, suggesting the owner addressed immediate failures but left underlying corrosion and wear to progress. A buyer should treat the brake system as the primary concern. Corroded front brake pipes appeared in every test from 2024 onward, and the 2024 failure specifically cited an excessively corroded offside rear brake pipe. The 2025 test added corrosion on all brake hose ferrules. These are hydraulic components where external corrosion often masks internal deterioration. Have a mechanic pressure-test the system and inspect pipe bores and hose interiors before any long journey. The worn front suspension arm bushes and anti-roll bar linkage bushes, flagged repeatedly since 2024, will affect steering precision and ride quality. Check for play with the front end raised and budget for replacement if the car has not had fresh rubber mounted recently. Structural rust demands equal attention. The front spring towers and rear suspension mounting areas have been noted as corroded in multiple consecutive tests, with the 2025 failure citing excessively corroded offside rear sill strength. Although the tester judged rigidity not significantly reduced on the most recent pass, corrosion on a nineteen-year-old steel-bodied vehicle tends to accelerate. Inspect the sills, subframe mounting points, and inner wings with a torch and a thin probe. Surface corrosion on the underside is one thing. Pitting or soft spots around the rear suspension mounts and seat belt anchorage areas are another. If the metal flexes under pressure, the car may not present a clean bill of health at its next test.