2021 Toyota Corolla Icon HEV CVT 1.8L Hybrid electric (clean) · NL71 FSU

Steering linkage wear is the defining theme of this Corolla's test history, with track rod end and steering ball joint play appearing as advisories across three consecutive years and on both sides of the front axle. The most recent examination on 27 August 2026 ended in a pass, but only after an initial failure on the same day for an inoperative offside rear registration plate lamp, a defect that had also contributed to a failure in September 2024 alongside an ineffective front windscreen wiper. The overall trend is one of a car that passes its tests but accumulates a consistent pattern of wear-related advisories: tyres worn to the legal limit or on their edges in 2024 and 2025, front brake discs lipped and pads wearing thin in 2024, a worn and scored nearside rear brake disc inner face in 2025, and now slight play in both inner front track rod end ball joints. None of these are structural or dangerous items, but the recurrence of steering and brake wear items across successive tests indicates components being used hard and replaced or monitored at the margin rather than well in advance. The recorded mileage of 212,698 miles in roughly five years, averaging around 42,500 miles annually, is exceptionally high for a vehicle of this age and goes a long way toward explaining the advisory pattern. That kind of accumulation is consistent with sustained motorway or commercial-style use, which is typically gentler per mile on brakes and suspension than urban stop-start driving, yet the sheer distance covered means consumables such as tyres, brake discs, pads, and steering joints will cycle through their service lives far more quickly than on an average car. The test intervals themselves are regular, with annual examinations each August or September and no significant gaps in the record, so the mileage has been accrued under continuous use rather than after any lay-up. Buyers should recognise that at this mileage, even a hybrid Toyota with a reputation for durability will be approaching wear thresholds on items the MOT does not directly measure, such as suspension dampers, wheel bearings, and CVT drivetrain components. On a test drive, the steering advisories deserve the closest attention. With slight play recorded in both inner track rod end ball joints in 2026 and an offside steering linkage ball joint flagged in 2025, listen and feel for any looseness or vague response around the straight-ahead position, and check for a light knocking or rattling through the steering wheel over broken surfaces. Uneven or edge-worn tyres were noted repeatedly, so inspect the current tyres for inner or outer shoulder wear, which in combination with steering joint play can indicate alignment issues or worn linkage geometry; the car should track straight on a level road without pulling or requiring constant correction. Braking components warrant equal scrutiny given the history of lipped front discs, thin front pads, and a scored nearside rear disc inner face. During the drive, apply the brakes firmly from speed and feel for any judder or pulsation through the pedal or steering wheel, which would suggest disc thickness variation or warping, and listen for grinding or scraping that could indicate worn pads or heavily scored disc faces. Finally, verify that both rear registration plate lamps illuminate, as this minor electrical fault has now appeared in two separate test cycles, and confirm the wipers clear the screen cleanly, since wiper performance caused a failure in 2024. A pre-purchase inspection focusing on the front suspension and steering assembly, plus a check of hybrid system and CVT service records at this mileage, would be a sensible precaution before committing.