2012 MAZDA 31.6L Diesel
This 2012 MAZDA 3 is a Diesel vehicle with a 1560cc engine. Currently it has a valid MOT and is taxed for road use. The latest recorded mileage is 137,633.
- Fuel Type
- Diesel
- Year
- 2012
- Engine
- 1560cc
MOT Roadworthiness: Good
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Technical Specifications
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Full MOT History
This 2012 Mazda 3 (VK12 ACF) has a recorded MOT history spanning from January 2024 to January 2026, with 5 MOT tests on record.
Across its entire MOT history, this Mazda has a 60% success rate (3 passes and 2 fails). A decent overall history, though the failure record warrants a closer look for any patterns.
The most commonly flagged areas across all MOT tests are: Brakes (6 issues), Lighting (5 issues), Suspension (2 issues), Tyres (2 issues), Windscreen (1 issue). These areas are worth paying attention to when inspecting this vehicle.
There are 12 advisory notices in the MOT history. Advisories are not failures but indicate areas that may need attention in the future.
A total of 8 failure items have been recorded across all tests. Recent failure items include: “Offside Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))”; “Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))”; “Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))”.
Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory
Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.
Our Verdict
Extreme caution. This high-mileage diesel shows significant signs of structural corrosion and deferred mechanical maintenance. While the engine may be robust, the consistent history of sub-frame rust and suspension wear suggests expensive repairs may soon be ahead.
The primary focus for this vehicle is a thorough structural inspection. Multiple MOT records have flagged 'sub-frame corroded' and 'under body rusty'. You must have a rust specialist inspect the chassis to determine if the corrosion is merely surface or structural, as a subframe replacement is a high-cost repair.
Mechanically, check the service history for the 1.6L diesel engine; at 137k miles, ensure the timing belt (if applicable to this specific variant) has been replaced. Given the recent failures of brake discs, pads, and ball joints, ask for invoices proving these have been replaced recently. Be prepared to negotiate down if these components are needing attention shortly after purchase.
Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.
Data Sources
DVSA
Official MOT test logs & failure reasons
DVLA
Tax, registration & powertrain specs
Experian
Finance, stolen markers & total loss
AI Analysis
Historical fault & advisory patterns
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Plate Neighbors
Batch Registration Neighbors (VK12 Series)
Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as VK12ACF.