2016 Toyota Avensis 1.6L Diesel · FN66 PSZ

A recurring pattern of wear-related advisories on tyres, brake friction material and rear suspension components defines the mechanical profile of this 2016 Toyota Avensis. Across the seven recorded MOT events there are three advisories relating to tyre condition (front pair worn to the legal limit in 2024 and a nail in the nearside rear tyre noted at both 2025 tests), two advisories on rear brake pad wear, and an advisory on both rear trailing arm pins or bushes noted at both 2025 tests. The 2025-10-24 entry is the most significant item, recording a dangerous failure on the offside rear brake pad which had worn below the statutory 1.5 mm minimum thickness; this is a serious safety defect and indicates that brake pad inspection intervals on this vehicle should be treated as urgent. Two further failures appear in the earlier record, both related to windscreen condition or wiper effectiveness (a major windscreen defect in 2022 and a wiper clearing defect in 2023), and these were rectified at the retest without recurrence. The most recent test on 2025-10-29 passed, but the combination of a dangerous brake failure only five days earlier and multiple component advisories at that same test paints a picture of a car whose consumables and suspension joints are actively deteriorating rather than a record of stable roadworthiness. At 69,181 miles over roughly a decade of use, this Avensis has averaged approximately 6,900 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the expected range for a privately owned vehicle of this age. The recorded tests span from 2021 through late 2025 with no obvious multi-year gaps, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use throughout the period rather than laid up for extended storage; this reduces the typical concerns around seized calipers, perished fuel lines, or degraded brake fluid from long inactivity. The mileage progression between tests is consistent with steady annual accumulation, and there is no evidence of rapid mileage escalation or odometer irregularity in the dataset. Mechanical implications of this moderate usage are largely positive in that major drivetrain components should not be excessively worn, but the brake and suspension advisories indicate that the secondary consumables are reaching the typical replacement thresholds expected at this mileage band. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection items are the rear brake system and the rear suspension trailing arm bushes, both of which were flagged in 2025. The rear brake pads should be physically measured on a lift or by wheel removal to confirm remaining friction material, particularly on the offside rear where the dangerous-level wear was recorded, and the caliper guide pins and slider mechanisms should be checked for free movement because seized sliders accelerate uneven pad wear. On the trailing arm bushes, expect to see and feel play in the rear suspension; with the vehicle jacked or on a ramp, attempt to articulate the trailing arms vertically and laterally to detect any looseness beyond the advisory threshold, and on the road listen for clonking or knocking from the rear axle over speed humps, uneven surfaces, or during direction changes, which would suggest the wear has progressed past the advisory stage. A steady speed run over a poor road surface at low speed is the most revealing test, as worn rear trailing arm bushes frequently produce a distinct rear-end knock that is not present during normal cruising. The tyre advisories warrant attention to the front pair, which were flagged as worn to the legal limit on both edges in October 2024 and may therefore have been replaced shortly after; check the current tread depth across the full width of the front tyres, as edge wear on both sides typically points to incorrect camber or toe geometry, persistent under-inflation, or worn suspension components rather than simple ageing. The nearside rear tyre had a nail recorded at both 2025 tests, so inspect the inside shoulder and tread carefully for any repair patches or slow punctures, and verify that the replacement tyre is of matching size and load rating. Finally, during a road test, pay particular attention to brake pedal feel, listening for any judder under moderate pedal application (suggesting disc warping) and confirming that the vehicle tracks straight under firm braking without pulling to one or more side, given the rear brake wear history. A thorough pre-purchase inspection on a ramp with the wheels removed would be strongly advisable to confirm the true state of the rear pads, discs, calipers and trailing arm bushes before committing to purchase.