2016 Toyota Hilux 2.5L Diesel · LO65 WBZ

A pattern of safety-critical component failures emerges across this Hilux's MOT history, with three separate failed tests recorded between 2022 and 2026 and a further pass carrying an advisory alongside a minor defect. The 2026-01-26 test produced a pass, but only with a defective rear fog lamp lens noted as a minor item, plus advisories for an offside front tyre at the legal limit and both rear tyres worn close to the limit. Earlier, on 2025-01-13, the vehicle failed outright on five major defects centred on the lighting and signalling system, including an inoperative horn, a non-functioning nearside front position lamp, an incorrect offside rear direction indicator colour, and two nearside headlamp faults covering beam aim and the levelling device. A subsequent retest on 2025-01-20 passed with no defects recorded, suggesting those items were rectified. More significantly, the 2023-01-18 failure identified fractured coil springs on both front sides, a nearside front brake excessively binding, an inoperative windscreen washer, and a non-working central stop lamp. The 2024-01-08 failure then flagged an illuminated engine management indicator lamp alongside an electronic stability control warning lamp fault and another position lamp failure. Together these entries indicate repeated electrical, lighting, and front suspension concerns rather than a clean and stable roadworthiness profile. Mileage recorded on the test certificates is not available in the provided data, so annual accumulation cannot be calculated directly from the history. The vehicle is around ten years old with 74,280 miles currently indicated, equating to roughly 7,400 miles per year on average, which sits within typical parameters for a working or leisure-use pickup of this age and segment. There are no extended gaps in the testing record, with annual tests consistently performed from 2022 through 2026, so the vehicle has not been laid up off the road for any prolonged period and there is no evidence of a multi-year storage scenario that would warrant concern over standing-start degradation. For a prospective buyer, the coil spring failures on both front sides in early 2023 are the most mechanically significant items in the file and warrant a focused inspection. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed humps, rough road surfaces, and during steering inputs, as a fractured or weakened coil spring on a leaf-sprung commercial-derived platform typically produces an audible metallic impact and can cause a visible drop in ride height on the affected corner. The nearside front brake that was recorded as excessively binding should also be checked by feeling for excessive heat at the wheel after driving, any pulling to one side under light braking, and a brake pedal that feels unusually high or reluctant to release. The recurring lighting defects, particularly the headlamp levelling and aim issues, suggest possible connector corrosion, actuator wear, or underlying electrical faults, so all exterior lamps, indicators, and the horn should be functionally verified before purchase. Finally, the engine management and stability control warning lamps recorded in 2024 indicate that stored fault codes may still be present, making a diagnostic scan advisable to confirm whether any underlying sensor, ABS, or emissions issue remains unresolved. The tyre wear pattern noted across three consecutive tests, with advisories on the nearside front in 2023 and 2024 and on both rear tyres plus the offside front in 2026, points to uneven wear that may be linked to the front suspension geometry or tracking. On inspection, measure tread depths across the full width of each tyre rather than only at the centre, look for feathering or one-sided wear on the front pair, and check the rear for any uneven shoulder wear. Given that the vehicle has completed several years of testing with front coil spring and brake binding defects, a thorough underside examination on a ramp is recommended to confirm the replacement front springs are seated correctly, the brake caliper slides freely, and there is no secondary damage to the strut assemblies or top mounts resulting from the original fractures.