2016 Toyota Auris 1.8L Hybrid electric · FH65 UBT

A rear brake failure on a 2023 test is the defining mechanical event in this Auris's history, and it dictates how the remainder of the record should be read. On 4 December 2023 the vehicle failed its MOT with two dangerous defects at the offside rear: a brake pad worn below the 1.5 mm statutory minimum and a brake disc recorded as seriously compromised, alongside an advisory for wear and pitting on the nearside rear disc. This was not a borderline advisory but a failure that would have rendered the car illegal to drive away from the test station. The vehicle was subsequently presented the same day and passed, indicating remedial work was carried out, and the two tests since then, in December 2024 and 16 December 2025, have returned clean pass results. However, the most recent test, on 16 December 2025, did flag an advisory for front brake pads wearing thin, suggesting that brake wear remains an ongoing theme rather than a resolved one-off. The overall trend is stable since the failure but the recurrence of brake-related items across consecutive tests warrants close inspection of the braking system as a whole. The mileage context for this ten-year-old Toyota is notably high, sitting at 128,410 miles against an annualised average of roughly 12,841 miles per year. This places the vehicle well above typical mileage expectations for its age and means that wear-sensitive consumables, suspension bushes, engine mounts, clutch and drivetrain components will have accumulated substantially more stress than the average example. The MOT history records no extended gaps in testing, suggesting continuous use rather than long periods of standing, which is generally favourable for avoiding issues such as seized brakes, perished fuel lines or degraded 12V batteries. Even so, the high accumulated mileage, combined with a confirmed brake failure, points toward a vehicle that has been used heavily and where component life remaining on items such as the second set of brake discs, rear brake caliper slides and handbrake mechanism should be considered finite. Given the history, a prospective buyer should treat the braking system as the primary area of mechanical scrutiny. On a test drive, listen for any scraping, grinding or clicking from the front wheels consistent with pads nearing the end of their service life, and check the pedal feel for excessive travel, sponginess or judder under firm braking which could indicate warped front discs or a sticking caliper. At the rear, a binding caliper or seized handbrake mechanism can mimic an overheating issue; on a level surface with the handbrake released the vehicle should roll freely, and any pulling to one side under braking warrants immediate investigation. The 2023 disc failure also raises the question of whether inferior quality replacement discs were fitted; feel for vibration through the brake pedal at speed, which would suggest lateral run-out or disc distortion. Beyond the braking system, the high recorded mileage makes a thorough inspection of the suspension and drivetrain worthwhile. On the test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, which would suggest worn anti-roll bar bushes, droplinks or bottom arm rear bushes, all known wear items on a vehicle of this age and mileage. Steering should feel precise without vibration through the wheel between 50 and 70 mph, and any vagueness or knocking on full lock could indicate worn track rod ends. Under the bonnet, check for any signs of oil misting or weeps from the valve cover gasket, and verify that the cooling system is full with no staining around the header tank. Finally, confirm the mileage on the odometer matches the DVSA records, inspect the rear wheel cylinders and flexi hoses for any signs of fluid leakage or corrosion, and ensure the second set of rear brake discs fitted after the 2023 failure shows no signs of premature wear, as a recurrence of the same issue on replacement components could point to a sticking caliper or handbrake mechanism that was not addressed at the time of repair.