2004 Toyota Yaris 1.0L Petrol · SF04 KEH

The defining mechanical story of this 2004 Toyota Yaris is a recurring pattern of wear in the front suspension and braking system, punctuated by two failed MOTs in 2019 and 2023 that centred squarely on those components. Across the seven tests on record, anti-roll bar linkage wear has appeared in some form at virtually every inspection from 2019 onwards, culminating in a failure in January 2023 when both nearside and offside front linkages were deemed excessively worn alongside both front brake pads which had worn down to the wear indicator. The most recent test on 17 January 2025 was a pass, but the advisory list was unusually dense for such a short document, flagging rear brake hose deterioration, a nearside rear tyre at the legal limit, reduced damping on the offside front shock absorber, lower suspension arm pin or bush wear on both sides at the rear, and slightly worn rear shock absorber bushes. Taken together, the trajectory suggests a chassis and undercarriage that is steadily accumulating age-related wear, with braking components having already triggered a failure in the recent past. Recorded mileage stands at 114,547 miles over approximately 22 years, equating to around 5,200 miles per year on average, which is notably low for the vehicle's age. The MOT history itself begins in May 2019, meaning there is no recorded test activity for the first 15 years of the car's life, and there are gaps between tests in 2020 and 2022 that may indicate periods of limited use or the car being off the road. Annual mileage accumulation between recorded tests is modest, generally in the low thousands, which is consistent with light-use patterns such as short urban trips or occasional weekend driving rather than sustained long commutes. Mechanically, this profile can be a mixed picture; lower mileage often preserves engine and transmission internals from thermal cycling stress, but it also allows corrosion to establish itself on exposed underbody components, brake lines, and coil springs through lack of regular drying-out cycles, which aligns with the rust-related advisories seen on the rear brake hoses and coil springs. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas on a physical inspection are the anti-roll bar linkages, the rear brake hoses, and the rear suspension components. The front anti-roll bar drop links have been a chronic item, first flagged as worn in 2019, escalating to a major failure in 2023, and presumably renewed at that point given the subsequent passes — it is worth asking for any invoice evidence of replacement and then checking for clonking or rattling noises over speed humps or uneven tarmac, particularly from the front end. The rear brake hoses showing slight deterioration in 2025 are a known failure point on older Yaris models, and a firm test of the pedal under load with the car jacked is worthwhile, looking for any sponginess or visible swelling of the hoses. The rear coil spring corrosion advisory from 2024 and the worn rear shock absorber bushes from 2025 suggest the back axle is approaching the stage where replacement is sensible; listen for any knocking from the rear over bumps and check for visible surface rust or flaking on the exposed sections of the springs. A road test should focus on ride quality and braking feel. With shock absorbers flagged for reduced damping effect at the front and worn bushes at the rear, expect a looser, less controlled ride than when the car was new — pay particular attention to any continued bouncing after hitting a bump, wallowing through corners, or excessive nose-dive under braking. The 2023 failure noted a driver's door that could not be opened from outside, which warrants checking the door handle mechanism and latch operation from both sides before purchase. Tyre wear patterns are also worth a close look, as edge wear has been flagged on multiple occasions across different axles, which can point to worn bushes, tracking misalignment, or simply aged rubber — verify the age and condition of all four tyres and check the wheel rims for kerb damage that might explain uneven wear. Finally, given the rear brake hose deterioration advisory, a brake fluid service with fresh fluid and a thorough inspection of the entire braking system would be a prudent early investment.