Hello All,

First of all i'd like to thank all the contributors here for the treasure trove of advice and information provided to those in need.

My partner purchased a Toyota RAV4 2006, 92,000 miles for £4400 from a trader August 2022. It had just passed it's MOT after having one advisory "Underbody Covered In Underseal"

We then used the car for 5 months doing some road trips around the country to see family and friends and then the car was put in a garage for the past 6/7 months.

We got it out of storage and it developed a little rattle prettry quickly, had a feeling it was the bushings so we decided to take it in for an MOT which came back with:

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99,200 miles:

Repair immediately (major defects):

Nearside Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill excessively corroded multiple patches (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill excessively corroded multiple patches (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear bush debonding from arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear bush debonding from arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened Front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened All suspension arms/shocks (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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The guy that did the MOT said it's scrap and it's going to cost way more than it's worth to fix it. I proceeded to explained it's usage since we've had it and he said that these issues (big corrosion holes in the side wings and suspension) were most certainly there before we bought it. I looked at the MOT history and it seems a bunch of advisories were not carried over to the MOT that was done when we bought it.

Link to Photos

Once i calmed down, i called the trader/dealer that sold it to me and he basically fobbed me off with "If you would have come to me within 6 months i could have helped you" and when i explained that the corrosion holes don't appear in such a short space of time, he suggested i poked holes in the sold steel frame to create them.

I'm trying to ascertain if we have any recourse here against the trader/dealer or MOT Inspector or; if we've just thrown £4400 down the drain. I understand it's on us to proove that the car was sold to us with issues which should have been picked up in the MOT before sale. We do have the time and energy to get a couple of garages to inspect and report on the state of Rust/Corrosion on the underbody to be used in a case in small claims court.

We've got 14 days until the current MOT runs out to either sell it for parts/scrap.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!