2010 Toyota IQ 1.0L Petrol · RX10 JWV

The Toyota IQ presents a clean MOT history in its most recent test, with the June 2025 inspection at 164,624 miles showing no defects—a positive indicator of current roadworthiness. The trend over the past year is stable, as both the June 2024 retest and the August 2023 retest also passed without issues, despite initial failures on those dates. These failures were unusual in that they carried no recorded defects, suggesting potential administrative errors rather than mechanical concerns. The absence of advisories or recurring faults in the passed tests implies that major structural or safety-critical components, such as brakes, suspension, or exhaust emissions, have not deteriorated beyond MOT thresholds. That said, the repeated failures on the same dates—June 2024 and August 2023—raise a minor red flag about either inconsistent tester scrutiny or a brief period of neglect before correction. The vehicle’s mileage accumulation aligns closely with typical usage for its age, averaging around 10,289 miles per year over its 16-year lifespan. The gap between the August 2023 test (145,508 miles) and the June 2024 retest (161,865 miles) covers roughly 18 months, during which the car covered 16,357 miles—a moderate but steady pace. The subsequent 2,759 miles between June 2024 and June 2025 suggest lighter use or a period of inactivity, possibly indicating the car was not the primary daily driver in recent months. The lack of mileage spikes or prolonged dormancy points to consistent, if not particularly heavy, operation, which generally correlates with predictable wear on consumables like tyres and brake pads. For a buyer, the primary focus should lie on components prone to silent degradation in vehicles of this age. Given the absence of recorded faults, structural integrity—particularly corrosion in wheel arches, sills, or suspension mounts—should be checked visually, as rust can compromise safety without immediate MOT detection. The suspension, including coil springs and bushings, warrants close inspection, especially if the car has been driven on uneven roads or stored in damp conditions. Brakes, while not flagged, should be tested for responsiveness and binding, as early signs of wear (such as uneven disc thickness or seized calipers) often precede MOT failures. Finally, the exhaust system and emissions controls, though not mentioned in the records, may benefit from a pre-purchase inspection to ensure no leaks or catalytic converter inefficiency have developed since the last test. The clean MOT history is encouraging, but a hands-on examination of these high-wear areas will confirm whether the IQ has been maintained beyond basic compliance.