2016 Toyota Yaris 1.5L Hybrid electric (clean) · FP66 WNM

The defining mechanical thread across this Yaris's recorded test history is a front suspension that has been quietly flagging itself for two consecutive years. The most recent examination on 5 December 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories, which is encouraging on the surface, but the 2024 and 2023 tests both carried notes about the nearside front shock absorber showing light oil misting, and the 2024 test additionally recorded that the offside front Macpherson strut was corroded though not seriously weakened at that point. The pattern suggests two components that were already beginning to degrade some time ago, and a buyer should treat the 2025 clean result as a snapshot rather than proof that the underlying issue has resolved itself. The strut corrosion in particular is the sort of finding that can progress between tests if exposed to winter road salt, so it warrants a physical inspection rather than reliance on paperwork alone. Recorded mileage of 87,997 over a ten-year life equates to an average of roughly 8,800 miles per year, which sits in a broadly average band for a car of this age and type. There are no extended gaps in the testing history, with annual MOTs recorded continuously from January 2020 through to December 2025, which indicates the vehicle has been in steady use rather than laid up for any prolonged period. The only minor anomaly in the record is a January 2020 test followed by another in December 2020, simply reflecting the legacy MOT anniversary cycle changeover. Mechanically, an annual accumulation of this magnitude is consistent with normal commuting and errand use, meaning the usual consumable wear items such as brake pads, discs, tyres and exhaust components will have been worked through at a typical rate without the accelerated wear that high-mileage work use would bring. The specific advisories on record point to a clear set of items to scrutinise on a physical inspection and test drive. The nearside front shock absorber has been noted as showing oil misting on two successive tests, so during a road test listen for any knocking or clonking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces and watch for the nose dipping excessively under braking or the car continuing to oscillate after passing a speed bump. If the misting has progressed since 2023, the body of the damper may now be wet to the touch or coated in road dust mixed with oil residue, and a bounce test at the corner should see the car settle promptly. The offside front strut corrosion flagged in 2024 should be examined visually for any flaking, paint loss, or deeper pitting around the spring seat and lower mounting, paying particular attention to whether the corrosion is merely surface or has begun to thin the metal. The 2020 advisories on both front tyres being worn down to 2mm and feathered on the edge suggest a front-end alignment or suspension geometry consideration worth verifying. On a test drive, pay attention to any pulling to one side under steady acceleration or braking, uneven steering effort, or a steering wheel that sits off-centre on a straight road, all of which would indicate that the tracking needs attention and that previous uneven tyre wear may recur. Beyond the flagged items, general items consistent with a ten-year-old car of this mileage such as exhaust integrity, brake disc lipping and handbrake effectiveness should be checked in the usual way, but the Macpherson strut and front damper condition are the priority follow-ups given their repeated appearance in the record. A cautious pre-purchase inspection on a ramp would be the most reliable way to confirm whether the corrosion noted in 2024 has remained stable or progressed.