2015 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · WM15 HWG

The Toyota Yaris has maintained a broadly stable roadworthiness record over the past two years, with only minor and largely consumable-related advisories in its most recent April 2026 test at 59,784 miles. The April 2026 MOT passed with just a single advisory—an offside front inner tyre worn close to the legal limit—indicating that routine maintenance on wear items has been addressed promptly. However, the repeated tyre advisories, particularly the near-continuous issues with front tyres (both near- and offside) between 2023 and 2026, suggest that either alignment or driving habits may have contributed to uneven wear. The absence of major structural or safety-critical failures in recent tests is positive, though the April 2025 failure for non-working headlamps and DRLs—subsequently rectified—points to intermittent electrical or bulb maintenance neglect. The vehicle’s mileage accumulation has been unusually low for its age, averaging just over 5,400 miles per year, which is well below the UK fleet average for a car of this vintage. This slow mileage buildup could reflect light use, extended periods of inactivity, or even odometer manipulation, though the latter cannot be confirmed from the MOT record alone. The gap between the February 2023 test (35,382 miles) and the April 2024 test (43,355 miles) suggests a roughly 8,000-mile annual run rate during that period, while the following year saw another 8,235 miles added by April 2025. Such variability in mileage suggests the car may not have been driven consistently, which could mask underlying wear or encourage deferred maintenance. The most recent 6,194 miles (from April 2025 to April 2026) align with the recent trend, offering no red flags for sudden mechanical stress. For a prospective buyer, the suspension components—particularly the near-side front MacPherson strut pin/bush and rear shock absorbers—demand close inspection. The 2023 advisory for worn strut mounting bushes, combined with light oil misting on the rear shock, indicates potential suspension fatigue that may have been addressed or may have worsened. Binding or uneven brake pad wear, as hinted by the 2024 advisory for thin front brake pads, should be verified, along with a check for corrosion or fluid leaks in the brake system. Tyre condition remains a recurring concern; any new buyer should confirm that the current tyres meet the legal tread depth and that the wear pattern has not deteriorated further. Electrical systems, particularly the headlamp and DRL circuits, should also be tested to ensure the April 2025 failures were permanently resolved rather than temporarily rectified. Structural integrity checks, while not flagged in recent tests, are still advisable given the car’s age and the historical advisories on tyre and suspension wear.