2002 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · PL02 BKK

The 2002 Toyota Yaris carries a 24-year MOT history that shows a pattern of recurring lighting, electrical and anti-roll bar concerns, with the most recent test on 23 October 2023 recording a pass but still flagging advisories for an inoperative reverse light, a non-working centre stop lamp and nearside front anti-roll bar linkage wear. Across the seven recorded test events, four failures have been logged between 2020 and 2023, and while most of those failures relate to lamps, headlamp aim and lenses, plus a 2021 dangerous stop lamp failure and a 2023 engine MIL indicator issue, the persistence of the same advisories year after year suggests that underlying minor faults are being carried forward without resolution. The combination of headlamp lens defects noted in 2020 and 2021, repeated headlamp aim and intensity failures in 2020 and 2022, and the engine MIL indicator finding in 2023 points to an electrical and lighting system that has required ongoing attention rather than one-off rectification. The coolant leak advisory recorded alongside the 2022 test is also worth noting, as it has not been remarked upon since but has not been confirmed as repaired either. With 199,633 miles recorded over approximately 24 years, the Yaris averages around 8,318 miles per year, which is broadly in line with typical usage for a vehicle of this age and places it firmly in the higher-mileage bracket for a small Toyota of this generation. There are no notable gaps in the annual testing pattern between 2020 and 2023, which suggests the car has been in regular use throughout, and the consistent year-on-year mileage progression is the likely reason for the steady stream of consumable wear advisories. Sustained use at this level will accelerate wear on suspension components, engine oil seals, cooling system hoses, exhaust mountings, and brake components, and any vehicle approaching 200,000 miles should be expected to show fatigue in these areas even where the MOT record does not specifically flag them. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection items are the front anti-roll bar linkage bushes and pins, which have been flagged on multiple occasions since 2022, including most recently on the nearside front; listen for clonks or knocks over uneven road surfaces and watch for excessive body roll or vague handling through tight corners, as worn linkage will allow the anti-roll bar to move independently of the strut. The cooling circuit flagged in 2022 should be checked by inspecting hoses, the radiator and the water pump area for fresh staining or weeping, particularly after the engine has been run to operating temperature, and a coolant level check before the test drive is worthwhile. Given the repeated headlamp lens and aim failures, both front headlamp units should be examined for internal condensation, hazing or crazing of the polycarbonate lens, and the adjustment screws verified for correct beam pattern during an after-dark check. The offside rear wheel bearing noise advisory noted in 2021 should be assessed by listening for a hum or drone that rises and falls with road speed and that may change when cornering, indicating progression of the bearing wear. The non-working centre stop lamp and reverse light should be confirmed as either repaired or currently functional, and a thorough check of the engine management system via OBD diagnostic readout is advisable given the 2023 MIL indicator failure, which can mask underlying sensor or catalyst issues on a high-mileage Yaris. Finally, an inspection of the rear brake components, exhaust mounting condition, and any under-bonnet oil seepage would be prudent given the mileage and the cooling system history recorded.