2013 Mazda 3 1.6L Diesel · AE63 EHT

The 2013 Mazda 3 currently sits with an MOT pass issued on 26 February 2026 at the recorded mileage of 140,071, the most recent outcome on file. That pass followed a same-day failure, a pattern indicating the vehicle was re-presented after addressing the items that caused the initial refusal. Looking back over the four recorded tests spanning 2023 through early 2026, the trend is best described as stable rather than improving, with each annual test producing a cluster of advisories and minor defects. None of the failures were for dangerous structural or brake-related defects, but the recurring nature of brake disc pitting, steering rack play, and corrosion on the rear subframe mounting suggests these components have not been resolved at their source. Mileage has progressed from the 2023 test through to February 2026, accumulating consistent annual usage in line with the roughly 10,775 miles per year average stated for the vehicle. The progression appears steady rather than erratic, with no extended gaps that would imply long periods off the road. The data itself is relatively thin, only four MOT entries are available, but the mileage consistency suggests the car has been in regular use throughout this period. A prospective buyer should place particular emphasis on a hands-on inspection of the braking system. The front discs have been flagged as pitted or scored at every test since 2023, and the rear discs appeared on the latest advisory list as well, indicating surface wear that will eventually compromise braking performance if the discs are not refinished or replaced. The steering rack inner joint play, noted on both 2023 and 2024 tests, is a wear item that typically progresses and warrants a physical check for slack on test. The rear subframe mounting corrosion, flagged twice as an advisory rather than a failure, sits in the prescribed area where rust can advance quickly on a thirteen-year-old chassis, so a close look underneath for any spreading corrosion beyond the tester-marked zone is sensible. Underbody corrosion has been raised generally, and tyres have twice been recorded as worn on the edge, a pattern that can point to alignment or suspension irregularities worth investigating before purchase.