2011 Mazda 2 1.3L Petrol · BW11 CEN

The most recent MOT test on 2025-12-29 confirms the vehicle passed without defects, though the preceding record reveals a history of persistent suspension issues. The trend is not improving—rather, it suggests a pattern of deferred maintenance, with repeated failures and advisories on front suspension components over multiple tests. The offside front lower suspension arm ball joint failed outright in January 2024, while the near and offside steering rack joints, along with the front lower arm ball joints, exhibited consistent play across 2023 and 2025. This implies either a lack of proactive replacement or a failure to address minor faults before they escalated. The December 2025 pass without defects may indicate temporary masking of symptoms, but the underlying structural wear remains unresolved. The recorded mileage of 73,898 miles over 15 years—roughly 4,900 miles annually—is unusually low for a vehicle of this age, suggesting prolonged periods of inactivity or very light use. The largest mileage jump occurred between January 2024 (58,637 miles) and December 2025 (73,898 miles), a 15,261-mile increase over 18 months, which is still modest but notable after the preceding three-year gap between tests. The sparse MOT history before 2023 makes it difficult to assess earlier maintenance habits, but the absence of failures in 2024 and 2023 tests prior to the suspension issues suggests these faults developed gradually rather than being long-standing. A buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the front suspension and steering components, particularly the ball joints and steering rack joints, which have shown repeated wear. The offside front lower suspension arm ball joint failed in 2024, and the near and offside steering rack joints exhibited play in both 2023 and 2025, indicating these parts are likely nearing failure. The suspension bushes and coil springs should also be examined for deterioration, as these are closely related to the ball joint failures. Given the vehicle’s age and the pattern of deferred maintenance, the brakes—particularly the rear calipers—should be checked for binding or excessive wear, though no such faults appear in the MOT history. Structural corrosion, especially around wheel arches and suspension mounts, warrants inspection, as prolonged inactivity can accelerate rust development.