2001 Toyota Yaris 1.0L Petrol · MA51 WXV

The 2001 Toyota Yaris holds a current MOT valid until 27 August 2026, having passed its most recent test on 27 August 2024 at 87,355 miles. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but punctuated by one significant structural failure. Between the September 2022 and September 2023 tests, the vehicle developed serious corrosion around both rear seat belt anchorages and wheel arches, a safety-critical defect that caused a fail on 6 September 2023. The subsequent pass on 14 September 2023, just eight days later at 84,843 miles, indicates the corrosion was repaired swiftly. Since then, the car has passed cleanly apart from a recurring advisory for a deteriorated front number plate, suggesting the structural work was addressed and the vehicle has been kept in generally sound order since late 2023. The mileage pattern reveals a notably low annual average of roughly 3,494 miles over 25 years, which is well below typical use. Accumulation has slowed considerably in recent years. Between September 2021 at 81,108 miles and September 2022 at 84,163 miles, the car covered 3,055 miles. From September 2022 to September 2023, it added only 664 miles, and from September 2023 to August 2024, just 2,512 miles. This suggests the vehicle has been used sparingly and may have spent extended periods stationary. Low mileage reduces wear on consumables and drivetrain components, but prolonged sitting can accelerate rubber deterioration and localised corrosion, which aligns with the suspension bush wear and underside rust flagged in 2022. A buyer should inspect the repaired rear inner sill and wheel arch areas thoroughly. The 2023 failure cited significant structural corrosion directly at seat belt anchorage points, meaning the integrity of the repairs must be verified. Look for signs of fresh welding, filler, or underseal applied over corroded metal, and check whether the seat belts mount securely without flex or movement in the surrounding metal. Examine the rear suspension bushes and shock absorber bushes, which were flagged as worn in September 2022 and may have degraded further if the car has covered only 3,000 miles since. The front subframe rust noted in 2022 also warrants close inspection, as corrosion in that area can affect steering and suspension mounting points. Tyre condition deserves attention given the advisory for a cracked and worn offside rear tyre in September 2021. With such low annual mileage, the original tyres may still be in service and could be aged beyond safe use regardless of remaining tread depth. Check the date codes on all four tyres and the spare. The front number plate deterioration appearing as an advisory in both 2023 and 2024 is minor but confirms the car has not received cosmetic attention. Overall, the record points to a structurally repaired, lightly used small car with no recurring mechanical defects, provided the corrosion repairs were carried out to a lasting standard.