2015 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · WD15 OAS

A clean three-year run of pass certificates with no advisories recorded from 2020 through 2025 represents a reassuringly stable roadworthiness profile for this Yaris, but it sits alongside a failure on the same date as a pass in late 2023, which is worth understanding in context. On 24 November 2023 the vehicle failed on three major defects all in one go: the front windscreen wiper not clearing the screen effectively, plus the offside headlamp failing on both dipped and main beam. These are typically straightforward component-level issues rather than symptoms of broader structural or mechanical deterioration, and the simultaneous pass recorded on the same date confirms the remedial work was completed and the car met standards within the same testing day. The only prior advisory history dates back to November 2019, when both front tyres were flagged as worn close to the legal limit and worn on edge, which on a 2015 Yaris points to alignment geometry, not just rubber age. With no advisories or failures since, the headline picture is one of a vehicle that has held its roadworthiness consistently at annual test, with a single isolated cluster of electrical and wiper defects that was resolved promptly. The recorded mileage of 96,484 across an 11-year life equates to roughly 8,770 miles per year, which sits comfortably within typical usage parameters for a small hatchback of this age and avoids the extremes of either a low-mileage garage queen or a high-mileage workhorse. There are no unusual jumps or gaps in the mileage progression that would suggest clocked readings, prolonged off-road storage, or radically inconsistent use, and the consistent annual testing pattern from late 2019 through late 2025 indicates the car has remained in regular service throughout. At this annual mileage, components like the clutch, brake discs and pads, and suspension bushes and dampers are likely approaching or past their second replacement cycle, which is normal wear rather than a flag, but worth budgeting for. The modest usage does mean the engine and transmission will not have suffered the thermal cycling stresses associated with very short urban trips, though standing periods between uses can still affect battery health and tyre age regardless of tread depth. For a prospective buyer, the most relevant items to physically inspect on a test drive are concentrated around the suspension and braking systems, given the mileage and the prior tyre wear pattern. The 2019 advisory on both front edges wearing simultaneously strongly suggests a tracking or geometry issue that may or may not have been corrected, so on a test drive pay particular attention to steering pull to one side under braking or on a level road, uneven steering wheel return, and any tramlining over painted lines or surface changes. Listen for clonks, rattles, or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and rough tarmac, which would indicate worn drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, or bottom arm bushes, all common at this mileage on a Yaris. Check for uneven front tyre wear on the current set, as inner-edge wear in particular can indicate worn suspension components rather than simply ageing rubber. On the braking side, expect to feel a firm, progressive pedal with no sponginess or excessive travel, and listen for any scraping, grinding, or metallic graunching from the front wheels as the car comes to a stop, which would point to worn pads contacting the discs. Pulsation through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm braking suggests warped front discs, a common Yaris issue around this mileage. Also check the headlamp and wiper functionality personally before purchase, even though they were replaced after the 2023 failure, by operating the wipers through all speeds and settings and confirming both headlamp beams illuminate correctly on a dim setting. Finally, inspect the underside for any oil misting or weeping around the engine and transmission joins, examine the exhaust for rust holes or blowing joints, and verify the cooling system has no leaks at the radiator, hoses, or water pump area, as these are consumable items that begin to demand attention on a Toyota of this age and mileage regardless of the clean MOT paper trail.