2012 Toyota Estima Aeras 2.4L Petrol · KS61 WFV

The vehicle presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 13 December 2023 at 86,851 miles with zero defects recorded. That clean bill of health followed a failed test just five days earlier on 8 December 2023 at 86,847 miles, where the tester flagged a serious fluid leak from the nearside rear shock absorber, an inoperative engine malfunction indicator lamp, and excessive exhaust hydrocarbon emissions at the second fast idle. The fact that all three defects were rectified within a week suggests the previous owner addressed the issues promptly rather than deferring repairs. The 2023 pass is the most recent MOT on record, meaning the certificate expired in December 2024 and the vehicle has now been without a valid MOT for approximately eighteen months. A fresh test should be arranged before purchase to confirm the car's current condition. The mileage progression reveals a notable gap in the MOT record between November 2021 at 30,168 miles and November 2022 at 71,785 miles, representing an accumulation of 41,617 miles in a single year. That sharp increase is well above the vehicle's typical annual average of roughly 6,204 miles and suggests a period of heavier use, possibly long-distance commuting or motorway work, which places additional stress on consumable components such as brake discs, tyres, suspension bushes, and drivetrain joints. The subsequent jump from 71,785 miles in November 2022 to 86,851 miles by December 2023 adds another 15,066 miles in just over twelve months, confirming sustained high-demand use through the final recorded period. No MOT entries exist beyond December 2023, so the current mileage of 86,851 may not reflect any further use or, conversely, could mask additional wear accumulated over the past eighteen months. A buyer should focus the in-person inspection on the rear suspension assembly, given the documented nearside rear shock absorber fluid leak that caused the December 2023 failure. Check for fresh corrosion on the shock body, weeping oil residue, and uneven coil spring seating. The 2022 advisory for a severely deteriorated offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover raises the broader question of front suspension bush and linkage condition, so inspect all lower arm bushes, track rod ends, and drop links for perishing and play. Front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in November 2022, meaning the pads and discs have now covered a further 15,000 miles since that advisory, so measure remaining pad thickness and check disc scoring or lipping. The inoperative engine MIL and failed hydrocarbon emissions from the December 2023 failure warrant a diagnostic scan for stored or pending fault codes, and a visual check of the exhaust system for leaks ahead of the catalytic converter. Finally, with no MOT since December 2024, a comprehensive underbody inspection for structural corrosion, particularly on sills, subframes, and brake pipe runs, is essential before committing to purchase.