MAZDA BONGO1998 · 2.5L PETROL

The vehicle currently holds a roadworthy status following a clean pass in October 2025, but the maintenance history reveals a concerning trend of structural degradation. While the most recent test showed no defects, it followed a significant failure just one month prior at 150,992 miles. In that failure, the tester identified excessive corrosion on the nearside inner sill and the offside rear inner suspension mounting area, indicating that the chassis-level rust is reaching a point where structural integrity is being compromised. The mileage profile is notably low for a 28-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,400 miles per year. However, there is a distinct gap of nearly 9,000 miles between October 2022 and October 2023, followed by very minimal usage of only about 1,000 miles over the subsequent two years. This low-frequency use often correlates with the deterioration of rubber-based components, as evidenced by the recurring reports of perished tyres and damaged dust covers between 2023 and 2024. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the inner sills and suspension mounting points to determine if the corrosion noted in September 2025 has been treated or merely masked. The record shows persistent play in the steering rack inner joints which has remained flagged since 2022, suggesting a long-term issue that has not been fully rectified. Additionally, the offside front brake disc was flagged for pitting and scoring in late 2025, so the braking system should be verified to ensure the component was replaced rather than just cleaned.