2008 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · SF08 VNZ

The 2008 Toyota Yars holds a valid MOT pass from 26 February 2026 at 138,893 miles, giving a current certificate valid until late February 2027. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but punctuated by recurring minor faults rather than a clean bill of health. The most recent test was preceded by a failure on 19 February 2026 at 138,748 miles, where worn front suspension arm ball joints and perished dust covers were flagged alongside low front tyre tread. The tester also recorded an advisory oil leak, thin front brake pads, and a note that sills could not be fully inspected due to covers. A corroded nearside front sill was flagged but judged not to significantly reduce structural rigidity, and the offside mirror was noted as damaged. The pass a week later suggests the suspension and tyre items were addressed, yet the oil leak and thin front pads carried forward as live advisories. Mileage progression sits at roughly 7,700 miles per year, which is typical for an 18-year-old small hatchback. The record shows a jump from 125,544 miles in February 2024 to 133,068 miles in March 2025, then to 138,748 miles by February 2026, indicating fairly consistent recent use after a period of lower annual mileage earlier in its life. The tight gap between the February 2026 failure and pass, just 145 miles apart, points to a retest after rectification work rather than a long gap in cover. No large mileage anomalies or suspicious leaps are visible, and the record density is reasonable for a car of this age. A buyer should focus on the front suspension and steering components first. The repeated appearance of worn suspension arm ball joints and deteriorated dust covers suggests the front end has seen sustained wear, so checking for play in the front wheel hubs, uneven tyre wear, and any knocking over bumps is essential. The advisories on thin front brake pads and worn front brake discs in 2024 indicate the braking system has been living close to service limits, so disc thickness, pad depth, and any lipping or scoring should be measured rather than assumed. The oil leak, flagged as not excessive in both 2024 and 2026, needs identification of its source, whether that is a camshaft oil seal, rocker cover gasket, or a weeping sump, as even minor leaks can worsen and contaminate drive belts or pulleys. Corrosion also warrants careful inspection. The 2026 advisory regarding the corroded nearside front sill, combined with the tester’s note that sill covers prevented a full inspection, means the true extent of rust is unverified. A buyer should have the covers removed to check both sills, the front subframe mounting points, and the inner wing lower edges for perforation or previous cosmetic overpainting. The rear brake pipe corrosion flagged in 2024, though covered in grease at the time, suggests the underside may have been exposed to moisture and road salt, so all brake lines, fuel lines, and the rear beam mounting areas should be examined for pitting or scaling. The repeated tyre-related failures in 2025 and early 2026 point to either extended use beyond legal limits or possible alignment issues causing uneven wear, making a four-wheel alignment check and close inspection of all four tyre sidewalls prudent before purchase.