2010 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · LL59 VDR

A genuine structural and brake-line concern sits at the heart of this Yaris's MOT record, despite the most recent test on 19 May 2026 returning a clean pass with no advisories recorded. The earlier 18 September 2023 test is the defining entry: the vehicle failed on an offside front coil spring that was so corroded its cross sectional area was reduced and seriously weakened, a Major category defect under Section 5.3.1 (b) (i) of the MOT inspection manual. Coil spring deterioration of that severity is rarely an isolated finding on a vehicle of this age, as corrosion tends to manifest across both front springs, the rear spring assemblies, and adjacent suspension hardware. The fact that the same 2023 test carried an advisory for both rear brake pipes being corroded and coated in grease or other material further reinforces a picture of underfloor corrosion developing on a car now in its sixteenth year. While the 2024 and 2026 tests returned clean passes, the absence of advisories does not erase the prior recorded evidence of weakened suspension and corroded brake lines, and a buyer should treat the recent clean results as a continuation of monitoring rather than a guarantee of current condition. The recorded mileage of 80,928 against a 2010 registration equates to roughly 5,058 miles per year, which is low for the vehicle's age and may indicate periods of light use or extended standing. MOT entries appear at 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026, with no test recorded between late 2022 and September 2023, then a gap until November 2024. A consistent annual testing pattern is evident, but the low annual accumulation does mean that components such as the brake discs, callipers, and flexible brake hoses may have suffered from surface corrosion and binding through lack of regular operation rather than wear from heavy use. Standing periods also accelerate deterioration of rubber elements including suspension bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, and CV joint boots, which would not necessarily be flagged at MOT unless the resulting play or cracking was significant at the time of test. The mileage progression across the recorded tests appears steady rather than sharply increasing, suggesting no major long-distance use between examinations. A prospective buyer should treat the front coil spring failure as the priority mechanical lead and inspect both front springs in detail, looking for surface pitting, flaking, or any area where the coil cross section appears visibly thinned, particularly on the nearside as a counterpart to the recorded offside failure. On a test drive, listen for clonking or metallic knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and pay attention to any harshness or crash through the front springs when traversing larger undulations. The rear brake pipe corrosion advisory warrants a physical underbody examination with a torch, checking both rear brake lines where they run along the axle and underbody floor pans for any rust scale, pinhole weeping, or the presence of thick grease that may be masking active corrosion. Brake pedal feel should be tested with the engine running: any sponginess, excessive travel, or evidence of fluid residue along the pipe runs or at the wheel cylinder connections would indicate the lines need immediate replacement rather than further monitoring. Further checks should focus on the suspension and steering linkages given the age and the recorded spring failure. Inspect the front and rear anti-roll bar drop links, wishbone bushes, and the lower ball joints for perished or cracked rubber and any visible vertical or horizontal play when the wheels are rocked by hand with the vehicle raised. Steering should be checked for any pulling to one side under braking, which can indicate corroded or binding front brake callipers, a common consequence of low annual mileage and limited use. The front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in November 2022, and although no further advisory has been issued, the caliper slide pins and the disc surface condition should be examined for pitting or lipping, as standing periods can produce uneven pad imprinting and corrosion on the disc faces. Finally, examine the underbody floor pans, subframe mounting points, and rear axle area for any bubbling or flaking paint that may indicate corrosion developing beneath the surface, as the rear brake pipe advisory suggests the environment under this vehicle is already promoting ferrous decay.