2016 Toyota Avensis 1.6L Diesel · FH65 USJ

A pattern of front-end steering and suspension wear dominates the recorded DVSA history of this 2016 Toyota Avensis, with the most recent pass on 30 June 2026 reinforcing rather than interrupting that trend. Across the seven tests on file, advisories have clustered consistently around the front axle: track rod end play in 2024, both rack ends flagged as worn in 2022, slight play in both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints at the latest test, and shock absorber oil misting noted in both 2021 tests. The only recorded failures are relatively trivial, both being inoperative registration plate lamps cited as PRs at the August 2023 attempt and immediately retested the same day with a pass, so the structural MOT record is otherwise unbroken. However, the cumulative front-end advisory pattern is the defining mechanical takeaway, and a buyer should treat it as evidence of progressive wear rather than isolated incidents, particularly given the mileage the car has covered. The recorded mileage of 225,761 miles on a ten-year-old vehicle equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 22,500 miles, which is materially above average for its age and consistent with sustained long-distance or motorway use. This high rate of accumulation explains the wear pattern visible across the record: consumable components such as front brake pads (flagged as wearing thin in early 2021) and tyres (flagged at both the 2024 and 2026 tests on nearside and offside edges respectively) have predictably needed attention at shorter intervals than on a lower-mileage car. Testing has been reasonably continuous with no extended gaps, the longest being the roughly seventeen months between the 2021-03 and 2021-08 tests, so there is no evidence of a multi-year lay-up that would warrant concerns about seized brakes, perished rubber, or battery degradation from standing idle. The high annual mileage does mean that any component flagged as advisory in 2021 or 2022 has likely covered tens of thousands of miles since being noted, so borderline items should be assumed to have deteriorated further unless documentary evidence shows replacement. For a prospective buyer, the steering and suspension advisories warrant particular physical checks before commitment. The 2026 advisory on both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and the 2024 advisory on the nearside track rod end and steering rack inner joint mean that on a test drive you should listen for clonks or dull knocks from the front end over speed humps, broken tarmac, and when turning into kerbs at low speed, and feel for any vagueness, notchiness, or rattle through the steering wheel. A dry, level-surface check with the wheels turned lock-to-lock while stationary can also reveal clicking or slack from worn inner or outer tie rod ends. The persistent shock absorber oil misting noted on the offside front across 2021 warrants a check for continued seepage, and on the road you should pay particular attention to damping control over undulating B-roads, watching for any wallowing, excessive nose-dive under braking, or rear-end hop. The non-suspension advisories also require targeted attention. The 2026 advisory of an oil leak that is not excessive still demands inspection under the bonnet for fresh seepage around the engine sump, cam cover gasket, and front crankshaft seal, and the underside should be examined for drips or residue when viewed from beneath. The repeated minor advisories for an insecure battery across 2021 and 2024 indicate that the battery clamp or hold-down has been a recurring issue, so confirm that the battery is currently seated firmly and that the terminals are tight. Finally, given that two tyres were flagged as worn on the offside front and rear at the latest test, measure tread depth across all four corners with a gauge rather than relying on visual inspection, and check the offside edges for uneven wear which can itself indicate camber or suspension geometry issues compounding the steering wear already documented in the MOT record.