2017 Toyota Yaris 1.5L Hybrid electric (clean) · OV67 AOF

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 2 December 2025 with five advisories recorded against the test, which represents the highest number of advisory items noted across the visible history and suggests a maintenance profile that is beginning to plateau rather than deteriorate sharply. Prior to this, the vehicle had passed on 13 December 2023 and 3 December 2024 with only minor advisories, while the 2020, 2021, and 2022 tests were completed entirely without defects. From a trend perspective, the 2025 result is the first to flag concurrent issues across the suspension, braking system, and individual brake actuation, which warrants a structured pre-purchase inspection even though none of the items were sufficient to cause a failure. The increasing density of advisories is consistent with a nine-year-old vehicle entering a phase where rubber and friction components begin to require attention. With 53,962 miles recorded over approximately nine years, the vehicle has covered an annual average of around 6,000 miles, which is materially below the typical mileage for a car of this age and type. This low usage figure suggests either consistent light-duty driving, possibly short urban journeys, or extended periods of standing between uses. Both patterns carry their own mechanical implications; short-trip usage can lead to moisture accumulation in the engine oil and incomplete warm-up of the drivetrain and exhaust system, while prolonged standing can accelerate corrosion on brake discs, degrade 12V battery capacity, and encourage sticking or binding brake calipers. Any significant periods of inactivity between MOT tests should also be borne in mind, particularly given the recurrence of brake-binding advisories. The advisories from the 2025 test are the principal area requiring investigation. The nearside and offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush wear items indicate that the front suspension bushes are beginning to deteriorate, which on a test drive would typically present as a faint clonking or rattling over speed humps, uneven or feathered tyre wear across the front axle, and reduced precision in directional changes. The front and rear brake disc wear advisories point to surface pitting and scoring of the discs, which is commonly associated with brake shudder under hard application, extended stopping distances, and visible lipping on the disc edge; a binding rear brake caliper, as flagged on the nearside rear in both 2025 and 2023, may manifest as a pulling sensation to one side under braking, uneven brake pad wear, or a hot-smell from the relevant wheel after use. The 2023 advisory regarding offside front tyre damage and perishing, together with the 2024 advisory of a slightly distorted nearside front road wheel, should also be followed up by a close visual inspection of the wheel rim for cracks or buckling and a thorough check of the current tyres for sidewall cracking, as rubber deterioration progresses with calendar age regardless of tread depth. In addition to the advisories listed, a vehicle of this age and low-mileage profile warrants a number of calendar-based checks that are not always captured within the MOT inspection. The 12V battery should be load-tested, as batteries in low-use vehicles frequently suffer from sulphation and reduced cranking performance, and the charging system should be confirmed to be holding voltage correctly. Brake fluid, coolant, and automatic or manual transmission fluid should be examined for age-related degradation; brake fluid is particularly hygroscopic and should typically be renewed on a two-year cycle, while coolant systems benefit from a flush and refill at this mileage. Under the bonnet, ancillary drive belts, coolant and washer hoses, and the condition of the exhaust system including the rubber mountings should be assessed for perishing. The underside of the vehicle, given the localised front suspension wear already noted, merits inspection on a ramp for any signs of fluid weeping from the steering rack, engine oil sump, or front suspension components, together with a check for any early corrosion to the structural elements. A documented service history verifying regular oil and filter changes at appropriate intervals would provide additional confidence, given that low annual mileage does not eliminate the need for time-based servicing.