2005 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · PF54 KYZ

The 2005 Toyota Yaris holds a valid MOT pass dated 5 January 2024 at 110,653 miles, but that certificate was preceded by a failure on the same day for a major exhaust gas leak at both the middle and back sections, alongside both rear stop lamps being inoperative and a cracked offside front tyre tread. The maintenance trend over the last three years is mixed. The 2023 test cycle shows a similar pattern, a failure on 10 January 2023 followed by a pass on 11 January 2023, yet the advisory items from that year, front subframe corrosion and rear subframe corrosion, were never formally resolved and simply carried forward. The exhaust system has been leaking continuously since at least January 2023, initially flagged as a minor back box leak and then escalating to a major leak across two sections by January 2024. This is a worsening pattern on a critical emissions and structural component, not a one-off fix. The vehicle has effectively been running with a deteriorating exhaust and known structural corrosion for over three years. The mileage progression tells a story of very light use that suddenly stopped. Between the December 2021 pass at 102,314 miles and the January 2023 test at 103,263 miles, the car covered just 949 miles in over twelve months. Then between January 2023 and January 2024, it added only 7,390 miles. Both MOT tests in 2024 and 2023 were conducted at exactly 110,653 and 103,263 miles respectively, with no recorded test between December 2021 and January 2023, suggesting the vehicle may have sat unused for long periods. Low annual mileage of roughly 5,269 miles across its twenty-one-year life is well below the UK average, but prolonged standing is its own risk. Seized brake calipers, perished rubber bushes, dried-out seals, and localised corrosion all thrive in vehicles that sit idle. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the subframes and exhaust system first. The 2023 advisories for front and rear subframe corrosion remain unaddressed, and corrosion on a subframe is not cosmetic, it is a structural integrity concern that can affect suspension mounting points and steering geometry. Probe the subframe rails, especially around the rear trailing arm mounts and front lower suspension pickup points. The exhaust needs a thorough check from the manifold back. A major leak at the middle and back sections in January 2024, following a minor back box leak in 2023, suggests systemic deterioration rather than a single failed joint. Look for heavy corrosion on the silencer casings, cracked flexi-pipes, and leaking flange gaskets. Both rear stop lamps failed in January 2024 and the offside rear lamp failed in January 2023, so the rear lamp circuit, switch, and wiring loom deserve attention, particularly where the harness passes through the boot hinge area, a common failure point on this generation Yaris. The cracked offside front tyre tread from the January 2024 failure also raises a question about tyre age and storage conditions. Check all four tyres for sidewall cracking and date stamps, as perished rubber on a low-mileage car that has stood still is a real and immediate safety risk.