2016 Toyota Yaris 1.5L Hybrid electric (clean) · LM16 THV

A defining feature of this Yaris's MOT record is the persistent rear brake disc wear that has been flagged as an advisory at every single test since 2021, alongside front brake components now showing visible thinning. The rear discs were first noted as pitted or scored on both sides in October 2021, and the same defect has been repeated across the 2022, 2023, and 2024 tests, indicating a progressive deterioration that has not yet reached the threshold for failure but is clearly worsening. On the most recent test in December 2025, the vehicle initially failed on a misaligned windscreen washer jet issue, then passed on the same date with no advisories recorded, suggesting the washer was rectified at the test centre. The cumulative picture shows a vehicle that has not suffered any structural, suspension, or exhaust failures across seven recorded tests, but which has a chronic brake-related wear pattern that any prospective buyer should treat as an active maintenance liability rather than a cosmetic concern. Annual mileage of roughly 11,457 miles across a ten-year service life sits squarely within the typical bracket for a small city car of this age, and the testing history confirms continuous road use with no extended lay-up periods. Mileage has accumulated steadily between tests, with no anomalous jumps or suspiciously low readings that would suggest clock discrepancies or long periods off the road. This consistent usage pattern means the mechanical components have been worked regularly, which is generally favourable for preventing issues associated with infrequent operation, but it also means consumables such as brakes, tyres, and suspension bushes have accumulated wear proportionate to that mileage. At 114,570 miles, a 1.5-litre petrol Yaris of this generation is approaching the territory where clutch wear, exhaust system corrosion, and minor oil leaks from the engine and gearbox become realistic concerns, even though none of these have yet surfaced on the MOT record. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection should be the braking system, given the four-year unbroken advisory trail on the rear discs and the 2024 advisory on the front pads wearing thin. On a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding noise from the rear brakes when first pulling away, particularly in damp conditions, and feel for pedal pulsation or judder under firm braking, which would suggest the rear discs have now passed the point of being merely pitted and have developed lipping or runout. The front inner brake disc wear noted in 2024 should also be checked by inspecting pad material thickness through the wheel spokes and feeling for a definite lip on the disc edge. Brake pedal feel should be firm and progressive, without sponginess, and the handbrake should hold the vehicle on a moderate incline without excessive travel. Beyond the brakes, the 2020 advisory regarding both front outer tyres being worn close to the legal limit and the recurring nail-in-tyre advisories on the offside rear in 2019 and 2020 point to a pattern of kerbing or road debris exposure consistent with urban use. On inspection, check all four tyre sidewalls for bulging, cracking, or repaired punctures, particularly the offside rear, and verify that the tread depth is at least 3mm across the full width rather than just meeting the legal 1.6mm minimum. The 2023 minor advisory for a nearside front windscreen chip should be examined to confirm it has not grown or developed cracks radiating from the impact point, as windscreen replacement can be a costly rectification. Finally, with the mileage now exceeding 114,000, it would be prudent to listen for any clonking from the front suspension over speed humps, check for blue smoke on startup indicative of valve stem oil seal wear, and confirm that the cooling system has been maintained, as the radiator and water pump become increasingly likely failure points on high-mileage Toyota engines of this era.