2016 Mazda 3 2.0L Petrol · DF66 WKC

The vehicle remains roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a recurring trend of reactive repairs rather than preventative care. The most recent test in October 2025 at 74,294 miles resulted in a failure for an insecure rear registration plate and rear tyres reaching the legal limit. While the car passed the re-test, the persistence of tyre wear issues suggests the previous owner only addressed faults once they triggered an MOT failure or reach a critical threshold. The mileage pattern is consistent with a ten-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 7,400 miles per year. There is a steady accumulation of mileage, moving from 41,464 miles in late 2019 to 74,296 miles by late 2025. This moderate usage suggests the vehicle has not been subjected to extreme strain, which generally benefits the engine and drivetrain components. However, the intervals between tests are regular, and the record shows age-related degradation of rubber components and suspension despite the relatively low mileage. A buyer must scrutinise the rear suspension geometry due to documented evidence of uneven wear. The 2024 test at 64,526 miles noted rear tyres wearing unevenly on the inner edges, while the 2023 record flagged misting on the nearside rear shock absorber. These issues, combined with the fractured rear coil springs recorded in 2022, indicate that the rear suspension assembly is prone to alignment issues or premature wear. A physical inspection of the suspension bushes and shock dampers is essential to ensure these faults have not progressed into failure. Given that the last MOT was conducted in October 2025, the vehicle is currently nine months into its current testing cycle. The buyer should verify the current condition of all four tyres, as the previous record showed the rear pair already at the legal limit. Checking the structural integrity of the undertrays and engine covers is also advisable, as these were noted as fitted in 2019 and 2024, which may indicate an attempt to protect or hide surface corrosion on the lower body.