2007 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · RO57 VRU

The most recent MOT test on 10 October 2025 resulted in a pass, but it was achieved only one day after a failure on 9 October 2025 and was accompanied by advisories and a minor defect. The same broad pattern has been visible across the entire history, with pass after fail results in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, often separated by only a day or two. A persistent and recurring major defect is the engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction, which has appeared at every failure since at least 2022. Other repeat concerns include deteriorating constant velocity boots on the nearside and offside front drive shafts, recurring nearside front tyre wear issues, and advisories relating to perishing of the nearside rear tyre. The overall trend cannot be described as stable or improving; the vehicle is being kept on the road through rapid, sometimes same-day, remedial work rather than through consistently clean tests, and the repeated emission or engine management warning issue suggests an underlying fault that has not been permanently resolved. The recorded mileage of 81,519 miles over approximately 19 years equates to an average of around 4,290 miles per year, which is well below the national average and indicative of either light use or significant periods of standing. Such low annual mileage typically produces a distinct wear profile where mechanical components such as the clutch, gearbox internals, and engine upper-end components can remain in relatively good condition, but ancillary items suffer disproportionately. Standing time encourages moisture accumulation in the engine oil, degradation of brake fluid through hygroscopic absorption, oxidation of the cooling system, and the development of surface corrosion on brake discs, which can lead to binding calipers and judder under braking. The battery is also likely to have been subjected to repeated shallow discharge cycles, which significantly shortens service life, and the condition of the auxiliary drive belt, tensioner, and idler pulleys should be scrutinised given calendar age rather than mileage. For a prospective buyer, the most pressing mechanical concerns are the recurring engine management warning and the documented deterioration of the front drive shaft constant velocity boots. The split and deteriorated boots on both nearside and offside sides across multiple tests indicate that grease is being lost and that dirt ingress is occurring, which accelerates wear of the CV joint internals and ultimately leads to clicking noises on full lock, vibration through the transmission, and eventual joint failure. The boots should be inspected for splits, perished lips, and displaced retaining clips, and the joints themselves checked for play or noise on a test drive with full steering lock. A diagnostic read of the engine management system is strongly advised, as the repeated MIL illumination across four consecutive years points to a stored fault that has either not been properly diagnosed or has been temporarily cleared without a permanent fix. Symptoms to listen and look for include rough idling, hesitation under acceleration, unusual exhaust emissions, and a noticeable drop in fuel economy. The tyre history deserves particular attention. There have been repeated advisories for nearside front wear, dangerous failures for both front and rear tyres with structural tears and tread below legal limits, and an advisory for perishing of the nearside rear tyre. The recurring nearside front edge wear may suggest a tracking or suspension geometry issue, and the buyer should check for uneven or inner-edge wear across all four tyres and ensure a four-wheel alignment has been performed. The perishing of the rear tyre reflects calendar ageing of the rubber compound rather than wear, and although the vehicle is at an age where replacement is expected, the buyer should confirm whether all four tyres are recent and of matching specification. Additionally, given the persistent advisory regarding engine bay and underbody covers obscuring testable items, the vehicle should be inspected on a ramp to confirm structural integrity, check for fluid leaks from the engine, transmission, and cooling system, and verify the condition of the exhaust, subframe mountings, and suspension components including coil springs, anti-roll bar links, and lower arm bushes, all of which are subject to age-related fatigue on a vehicle of this vintage.