2007 Toyota HI-ACE 2.5L Diesel · MM07 AEK

The vehicle achieved a pass on its most recent MOT on 2025‑09‑15 at 137,317 miles, yet a simultaneous failure note records a nearside rear stop lamp not operating (4.3.1 (a)(ii)). The pass indicates the car meets basic roadworthiness standards, but the unresolved lighting fault suggests a minor but visible defect. The maintenance trend shows a clear deterioration in recent years: after a clean test in August 2022 (118,748 miles), the September 2023 tests exposed multiple suspension and tyre failures, a wheel‑bearing play was logged in August 2024, and the stop‑lamp issue persisted into 2025. This pattern points to a worsening condition rather than a stable or improving one. Mileage accumulation aligns with the vehicle’s age of roughly 19 years, averaging about 7,200 miles per year. The jump from 118,748 miles in August 2022 to 125,986 miles in September 2023 represents a typical annual increase, while the rise to 135,491 miles in August 2024 (9,505 miles in 11 months) and the modest 1,826‑mile gain to 137,317 miles in September 2025 show consistent use with occasional higher‑than‑average increments. The record is fairly complete, with no significant gaps in testing over the past half‑decade. A buyer should focus inspection on the components repeatedly flagged in the MOT history. The front suspension shows wear on anti‑roll‑bar linkage pins and bushes, an excessively worn shock‑absorber bush, and a slight play in the offside upper suspension arm ball joint (5.3.4 (a)(i)). The offside front wheel bearing exhibited slight play (5.1.3 (a)(i)), indicating a need to check for noise or movement. Tyre condition is a priority: the offside front tread was below 1.6 mm, the nearside front tyre was worn close to the legal limit, and a nearside rear tyre had a cut reaching the ply (5.2.3 (e) and (d)(i)). Electrical systems demand verification of the rear stop lamp, the registration plate lamp, and the offside front obligatory mirror, all of which have shown intermittent faults. Finally, given the vehicle’s age and mileage, a thorough visual check for chassis corrosion, especially around suspension mounts and underbody panels, is advisable to assess structural integrity.