2013 Mazda 3 1.6L Petrol · DP13 LGZ

This 2013 Mazda 3 with 60,664 miles has a clear and worsening pattern of lighting and tyre defects that should concern a buyer. Most recently, in August 2025, the vehicle failed its MOT on three tyre tread depth violations across the front and rear axles, plus an insecure registration plate lamp. These same tyres subsequently passed after remedial work, but the registration plate lamp issue persisted into the retest—a sign of incomplete or temporary repair. The lighting troubles run deeper than the most recent failure. The offside registration plate lamp has now appeared as a defect across three consecutive MOT tests: as inoperative in August 2024, then insecure in both August 2025 attempts. This suggests either poor-quality repairs or an underlying electrical or mounting fault that has not been properly addressed. Headlamp lens degradation also showed up in August 2024, hinting at age-related wear to lighting clusters. The low annual mileage of roughly 4,666 miles per year raises a mixed picture. On one hand, lighter use generally translates to less mechanical stress on the engine, gearbox, and suspension. On the other hand, extended periods of under-use—sitting for weeks or months at a time—can lead to battery drain, corrosion in fuel and cooling systems, tyre flat-spotting, and the kind of electrical gremlins now evident in the lighting.