2009 Toyota Yaris 1.0L Petrol · LL59 EPZ

The defining mechanical story of this 17-year-old Toyota Yaris is a long pattern of passed MOT tests accompanied by a consistent catalogue of advisories and minor defects clustering around the rear axle, the rear tyres, and the windscreen wipers. Across the eight recorded tests, no failures have been issued, but the 2024 examination is particularly notable for flagging corrosion on both rear coil springs simultaneously, alongside defective wiper blades on both sides. The most recent test in October 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories at all, which suggests the wiper blades were addressed, but the rear coil spring advisories from the prior test remain the most significant wear indicator in the record and warrant physical inspection. The exhaust mounting advisory from 2023 and the front brake pad advisory from 2022 are also relevant, as they describe components that progressively deteriorate with age rather than mileage, meaning further checks are prudent given the two years that have elapsed since those notes were issued. Against an expected annual accumulation of roughly 7,500 to 9,000 miles for a typical urban supermini of this era, the recorded figure of 77,936 miles over 17 years equates to an average of only about 4,584 miles per year. This is unusually low usage and indicates either extended periods of standing, very light local running, or a combination of both. Mechanically, low annual mileage does not equate to a preserved vehicle, as components that suffer from age-related degradation rather than wear from use such as coil springs, rubber boots, exhaust hangers, brake hydraulic seals, and tyre sidewalls will still deteriorate. The fact that rear tyre perishing advisories have appeared in three consecutive tests from 2020 through 2022 is consistent with age-hardened rubber rather than tread wear, and is the kind of defect pattern often seen on vehicles that cover short journeys or sit idle for stretches. For a prospective buyer, the rear coil spring corrosion flagged in 2024 is the single most important item to investigate. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking from the rear suspension over speed humps and undulating road surfaces, and check visually from behind for any visible thinning of the spring coils, flaking, or breaks in the spring steel. Examine the rear tyres directly, as perishing and cracking on the sidewalls should be looked for even if new rubber has been fitted since the 2022 advisory, since the underlying wheels and alignment should also be inspected for corrosion given the damp conditions that age-hardened rubber suggests. With the exhaust mounting previously noted as corroded, get underneath or use a torch to check the integrity of the rear exhaust hanger and rubber mount, as a collapsing exhaust can transmit noise and vibration into the cabin. The front brake pad advisory from 2022 and the consistent wiper blade minor defects across 2023 and 2024 point to routine consumable wear, but verify that the front pads and discs have been replaced or measured with adequate thickness remaining, and confirm that the wipers now clear the screen effectively without smearing. Lower annual mileage of this nature places additional importance on checks that address the consequences of standing rather than driving, so inspect the underbody for any surface corrosion that may have developed during periods of inactivity, particularly on the subframe, brake pipes, and suspension arms. On the test drive, pay attention to cold-start behaviour, smooth progression through the gears if manual, and ensure there is no binding from the brakes after prolonged standing. The MOT record itself contains no failures and no structural or brake pipe corrosion advisories, which is the strongest element of the file, but the recurring advisories indicate that this is a 17-year-old vehicle whose age-related wear should be expected rather than surprising.