2014 Toyota Aygo 1.0L Petrol · EX64 JCJ

The most recent DVSA examination on 16 September 2025 resulted in a PASS, which immediately follows a failed test recorded only eight days earlier on 8 September 2025. That earlier failure cited three major defects, namely an inoperative or malfunctioning engine management indicator lamp, a malfunctioning tyre pressure monitoring system, and an electronic stability control warning lamp indicating a fault. All three of these items are typically interconnected within the vehicle's electronic architecture, particularly on a Toyota Aygo of this generation, where ABS, ESC, and tyre pressure monitoring share sensor inputs and warning lamp logic through a common gateway. The fact that the vehicle was presented for a retest so soon afterwards and achieved a pass suggests the underlying faults were addressed or rectified by a clearing of stored DTCs and confirmed functional reset, but a prospective purchaser should be mindful that intermittent sensor or wiring faults can recur, particularly where corrosion has affected wheel speed sensor harnesses or the TPMS valve stems. Looking at the broader five-year MOT trend, the test history moves from clean passes in 2019 and 2020 through an escalating sequence of advisories relating to front brake discs, brake binding, shock absorber seepage, and anti-roll bar bushes, culminating in the 2025 failure and subsequent pass. This represents a mild but discernible pattern of increasing wear items being recorded, consistent with an ageing vehicle, although nothing in the recorded history points to any immediate test risk on the structural or safety-critical items that would cause an imminent failure. The recorded mileage of 37,999 miles over a twelve-year life equates to an average annual usage of approximately 3,167 miles, which is notably low even by the modest standards typically associated with a city-oriented Toyota Aygo. This suggests the vehicle has either seen predominantly light urban use with long intervening periods of standing, or has spent extended periods off the road between keepers. Low annual mileage in itself reduces wear on major drivetrain items such as the engine, clutch, transmission, and rear axle assemblies, but it introduces a different set of age-related concerns that high-mileage examples do not face. Prolonged standing is well known to accelerate degradation of rubber and polymer components, brake disc surface corrosion, and 12V battery health, all of which are particularly relevant here given the front brake disc advisories recorded in 2023, 2024, and 2025. A pre-purchase inspection should therefore focus as much on calendar-aged deterioration as on wear per mile, and the buyer should not be lulled into a false sense of security simply because the odometer reading is modest for the vehicle's age. The most consistent advisory throughout the MOT history is the nearside front tyre exhibiting slight damage, cracking or perishing, first noted in 2023 and recurring at every subsequent examination through to 2025. This is a classic low-mileage, age-related deterioration where the sidewall rubber hardens and oxidises through environmental exposure rather than tread wear, and it carries an immediate safety implication because aged sidewalls are far more susceptible to impact damage and sudden failure under load. On a test drive, listen for any unusual road noise or vibration from the front nearside corner, and inspect the inner sidewall in particular, as the 2024 advisory specifically noted cracking on the inner sidewall, which is often missed during a cursory external inspection. Tyres of this age on a 2014 vehicle should ideally be replaced regardless of remaining tread depth if the manufacturing date code reveals they are more than six years old, as the rubber compound loses elasticity well before the tread pattern is exhausted. The front brake disc corrosion noted in 2023, 2024, and 2025 is likewise strongly indicative of standing time and light usage rather than heavy braking, and on a test drive you should pay close attention to the initial braking feel from cold. Significant brake judder, vibration through the steering wheel, or a scraping or grinding sensation on the first application of the brakes suggests the discs have developed uneven corrosion or lipping and may soon require replacement. Binding of the nearside front service brake, recorded in 2022 and 2023, suggests the nearside caliper slider pins may be seizing, a common low-mileage Aygo issue that manifests as pulling to one side under braking, uneven nearside front tyre wear, or a wheel that feels notably warmer than the opposite side after driving. Further advisories requiring attention include the nearside front shock absorber showing light oil misting in 2021 and 2022, which warrants close visual inspection for any worsening of the seep or signs of fluid tracking down the damper body. The front anti-roll bar pin or bush wear recorded on both sides in 2021 should be checked by physically rocking the vehicle at speed changes or traversing speed humps to listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension, as worn ARB bushes allow excessive body roll and can mask more serious wear in the lower control arm bushings. Given the very low annual mileage, particular attention must be given to time-based rather than mileage-based servicing items, including the 12V battery which typically has a service life of four to six years and would now be well beyond its design life, the coolant which degrades chemically and should be renewed on a calendar basis regardless of mileage, brake fluid which is hygroscopic and should be replaced every two years to prevent internal caliper corrosion, and the engine oil which can suffer from condensation and fuel dilution during short trips and infrequent use. Verify the service history stamps to confirm these calendar-based items have been attended to, and during the physical inspection pay close attention to any evidence of fluid leaks beneath the vehicle, any difficulty starting from cold which might indicate a failing battery or deteriorated spark plugs, and any warning lamps that illuminate on the dashboard during the pre-start bulb check or remain illuminated post-start, particularly the engine, ABS, and stability control lamps which were implicated in the September 2025 failure.