2006 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · EO06 ABV

A pattern of minor but repeated electrical and lighting defects dominates this 2006 Toyota Yaris's MOT record, alongside a minor exhaust leak advisory that has lingered across consecutive tests. The most recent outcome on 26 January 2026 reflects this trend precisely: a pass was secured, but only after a failure earlier the same day addressing multiple lighting-related defects, including both headlamp aim irregularities, an inoperative offside front position lamp, and a seriously deteriorated offside front headlamp lens. Earlier in 2025, the vehicle failed on a rear registration plate lamp defect before passing with advisories relating to a deteriorated rear number plate and front tyres worn close to the legal limit on both edges. The intervening test in February 2024 was recorded as a clean pass with no defects. Taken together, the record demonstrates a vehicle that is fundamentally roadworthy but carries a clustering of minor electrical and lighting concerns rather than any structural or braking shortcomings. With 135,932 miles recorded over approximately twenty years of testing history, the vehicle has accumulated mileage at a rate of around 6,800 miles per year, which is broadly consistent with typical usage for a car of this age and likely role as a commuter or small-family runabout. There are no extended gaps in the testing record that would suggest a prolonged period off the road, and no evidence of mileage stagnation that might indicate long-term storage. This steady accumulation places the Yaris in a mechanical territory where routine wear items such as suspension components, engine and gearbox mountings, exhaust hangers, and minor electrical connectors are all expected to show their age, but where no single component has been flagged repeatedly as a chronic failure point. Given the specific components flagged across these tests, a prospective buyer should focus their physical inspection on the front lighting assemblies and their associated wiring. The repeated headlamp aim and lens deterioration defects on the offside front warrant close scrutiny: both headlamp units should be checked for condensation, cloudy or crazed lens surfaces, secure mounting adjusters, and correct beam pattern projection against a wall. The position lamp and registration plate lamp failures point to potential issues with bulb holders, earth connections, and minor wiring corrosion, so all exterior lamps should be operated and inspected for intermittent function. The persistent exhaust leak advisory at the rear silencer suggests inspecting the rear section for black soot deposits, hissing sounds on a cold start, and any visible cracking or separation of the silencer body or joint clamps. On a test drive, attention should be paid to tyre behaviour, given the advisory noting wear on both front tyre edges, which on a Yaris typically points to either alignment irregularities or worn suspension bushes allowing excess camber movement. The vehicle should be driven over uneven surfaces and speed humps to listen for knocking from the front suspension, particularly from wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar links, and top mounts. Steering should be checked for any pull to one side, vagueness around the straight-ahead position, or vibration through the column, any of which could compound the uneven tyre wear already documented. Finally, with the engine running from cold, listen for any exhaust drone or ticking that could indicate the rear silencer leak has worsened since the last advisory, and verify that the rear number plate lamp illuminates reliably, as this was the specific cause of the 2025 failure.