2004 Hyundai Matrix 1.8L Petrol · WA54 ACO

The vehicle is currently roadworthy following a clean pass in October 2025, but the maintenance history reveals a trend of reactive repairs rather than proactive upkeep. The failure on 22 October 2025 at 78,975 miles highlighted multiple critical issues including major exhaust leaks, corroded rear brake pipes, and a worn suspension arm ball joint. While the car passed the test the very next day, the density of these mechanical failures suggests that the owner only addresses significant faults when forced by a legal fail-test requirement. At 78,978 miles, this 22-year-old Hyundai shows exceptionally low mileage, averaging approximately 3,600 miles per year. This low usage often correlates with vehicles sitting for extended periods, which can accelerate the degradation of rubber-based components. The record shows a consistent gap of roughly 3,000 miles between annual tests, such as the 3,000 miles driven between October 2023 and October 2024. This stagnant pattern supports the theory that mechanical components may have been neglected despite the low distance driven. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the undercarriage for structural corrosion, specifically targeting the rear brake pipes which were previously flagged for excessive corrosion in 2025. The exhaust system requires close scrutiny to ensure the recent repairs were comprehensive, as the previous leaks indicated significant failure of the system integrity. Furthermore, the history of excessive wear on ball joints and track rod ends in both 2024 and 2025 indicates a need to check the entire steering and suspension geometry to ensure no further play remains that could compromise handling stability.