2009 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · PX59 XLP

A chronic and worsening corrosion picture defines this 2009 Toyota Yaris, with brake pipe and underbody rust advancing steadily across the test record and culminating in a failure on 16 June 2026 that combined three major defects: a severely grabbing rear secondary parking brake on the single line system, an inoperative engine management indicator lamp, and missing rear road wheel fixings on both sides. The vehicle passed a retest the following day on 17 June 2026, but only after those majors were resolved, and the pass still carried five advisories covering further brake pipe corrosion front and rear, front brake disc wear, a worn nearside front suspension arm pin or bush, and a corroded nearside front anti-roll bar linkage. The trend across the seven recorded tests is one of accumulating rather than receding defects, with advisories on suspension bushes, fuel breather pipes, electronic parking brake performance, and brake pipe condition recurring or worsening from 2022 onward. General underbody corrosion was first flagged in 2025 and was still noted on the most recent test, indicating that structural surface corrosion is established and continuing to develop. Annual mileage is notably low at roughly 5,749 miles per year across 17 years, which is well below average for a vehicle of this age and points to either light general use or extended periods where the car was stationary. Such low accumulation can mask wear on components that suffer from age-related degradation rather than mileage-related wear, particularly brake pipes, fuel lines, suspension bushes, and underbody seams, all of which have appeared as advisories on this record. The relatively even spacing of tests from 2022 through 2026 suggests the vehicle has been used consistently in recent years rather than laid up for long periods, but the age of components and corrosion indicators are the dominant mechanical theme rather than high-mileage wear. No rapid mileage spikes are evident between recorded tests, which removes one common concern but does not offset the advancing age-related deterioration. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the brake system on a test drive, as brake pipe corrosion has been flagged on every test since 2023 across front, rear, and front-to-rear sections. Feel for a soft or spongy pedal, listen for any scraping or grinding from the front discs noted as worn in the most recent advisories, and check whether the handbrake holds firmly on an incline, given the recent major defect for the rear parking brake grabbing severely. Inspect the underbody thoroughly for scale or flaking corrosion, especially around the rear fuel breather pipe that has been flagged as corroded since 2022, and check for any fuel odour which could indicate a compromised breather. Suspension condition warrants close scrutiny as well, with nearside front suspension arm pin or bush wear flagged on multiple occasions since 2022 and a corroded anti-roll bar linkage added on the latest test. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, and pay attention to any vague steering response or knocking through the wheel that could indicate the worn bush has now progressed to excessive play. Confirm that the nearside front tyre is free from the cracking and perishing noted in 2022, and verify that the engine management light illuminates and extinguishes correctly on ignition, given the recent inoperative MIL major defect. Finally, confirm that all four road wheel fixings are present and correctly torqued, as both rear fixings were recorded as missing at the recent failure.