2013 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · LL13 FFU

A pattern of minor electrical and lighting defects dominates the recent MOT history of this 2013 Toyota Yaris, with a single notable suspension failure interrupting an otherwise largely clean record. The most recent outcome on 10 August 2026 was a pass with no defects recorded, but this followed immediately by a same-day failure that listed four items: a defective front wiper blade, an inoperative nearside rear registration plate lamp, a non-functioning offside front side repeater, and a main beam headlamp not working on the nearside front. This pairing of pass and fail on a single date is characteristic of a vehicle taken in for test with known minor issues, failed, rectified on site or shortly after, and then re-presented the same day. Looking back through 2024 and 2025, the offside rear registration plate lamp has now appeared as a minor advisory in two consecutive tests, indicating a recurring electrical fault rather than a one-off bulb failure. The only structural concern in the entire record is a fractured offside front coil spring recorded as a major failure on 20 May 2021, which would have required replacement before the subsequent pass on the same date. The recorded mileage of 69,041 miles across approximately thirteen years equates to an annual accumulation of around 5,300 miles, which is notably low for the vehicle's age. Testing history shows no significant gaps, with annual tests recorded from 2021 through 2026, suggesting the car has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods. The lower-than-average mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the clutch, gearbox internals, and engine bearings, but it does introduce a separate set of risks commonly associated with short journeys and infrequent use. Brake discs and pads can suffer from low-speed surface corrosion, rubber components such as suspension bushes, gaiters, and weatherstrip seals can dry out and crack, and the exhaust system can degrade internally from condensed moisture if the car is rarely run hot. Any prospective buyer should weigh the reduced high-mileage wear against the possibility of age-related deterioration in these areas. Given the fractured coil spring flagged in 2021, the front suspension should be the primary focus of any physical inspection, even though no suspension defects have appeared in the five tests since replacement. The replacement spring may have been fitted with adjacent components left in original condition, so listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and feel for vagueness or looseness through the steering, particularly during slow direction changes that load the suspension. Pay particular attention to the condition of the top mounts, drop links, and anti-roll bar bushes, which are commonly overlooked when only the coil spring is replaced. Uneven tyre wear across the front pair would indicate alignment or suspension geometry issues that have developed since the repair. The recurring registration plate lamp failures and the cluster of lighting defects on the most recent failed test point to potential issues with the vehicle's broader electrical system rather than isolated bulb failures. During a pre-purchase inspection, all exterior lamps should be operated, including main beam, dip beam, side repeaters, indicators, and number plate illumination, as the August 2026 test recorded faults across four separate lighting items on a single visit. Check that the wiper blades sweep cleanly without smearing and that the headlamp main beam is functioning on both sides, as these were flagged at the same time. With low mileage recorded, it is also worth confirming the brake fluid age and the condition of the rear brakes, as prolonged low-speed urban use tends to leave light corrosion pitting on the rear disc surfaces, which can produce judder under firm pedal pressure from cold.