2012 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · EO62 EKT

The 2012 Toyota Yaris presents a mixed but generally stable maintenance profile as of its most recent MOT on 4 September 2025 at 107,646 miles. The vehicle passed that test, yet the examiner flagged several advisories that point to age-related deterioration rather than catastrophic failure. The offside rear coil spring was noted as corroded, a middle exhaust hanger was broken, and the offside rear tyre showed cracking or perishing. These are not immediate failures, but they confirm the car is entering a phase where structural corrosion and rubber component fatigue demand close attention. The maintenance trend is neither sharply worsening nor clearly improving. It sits in a holding pattern where minor defects accumulate between passes. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. From the failed test on 5 September 2022 at 92,944 miles through to the most recent pass on 4 September 2025 at 107,646 miles, the car covered roughly 14,700 miles in three years. That works out to just under 5,000 miles per year in the most recent period, down from the lifetime average of approximately 7,689 miles annually. The 2022 failure for a fractured offside front coil spring was promptly addressed, as the retest four days later at 92,944 miles passed cleanly. No mileage gaps or sudden jumps appear in the record, suggesting regular but light use rather than long periods of standing or high-mileage commuting. The recurring advisory for a deteriorating rear registration plate across three consecutive tests from August 2023 through September 2025 suggests cosmetic neglect rather than mechanical concern, though it does hint at a pattern of deferring minor items. More critically, the corrosion flagged on the offside rear coil spring in 2025 warrants a thorough underbody inspection. Surface corrosion on a coil spring can progress to fracture under load, particularly on a vehicle now over 14 years old. A prospective buyer should have a specialist examine both rear springs for pitting and cracking, check the condition of all exhaust mounts given the broken middle-section hanger, and verify the integrity of all tyre sidewalls, as the perishing noted on the offside rear indicates the rubber is ageing. Brake components, suspension bushes, and subframe mounting points should also be inspected for corrosion, given the vehicle's age and the type of defects beginning to surface.