2018 Mazda 3 2.0L Petrol · EN18 WNT

This Mazda 3 passed its most recent MOT in August 2025 with two advisories: a slightly distorted offside front road wheel and a nearside front tyre showing slight damage or cracking. The car covered only about 2,000 miles in the year before that test and has averaged under 2,000 miles per year since new – very low for an eight-year-old vehicle. The recurring mechanical pattern is a front wheel distortion. The same offside front wheel was noted as slightly distorted (inner rim) in the 2023 test, and it reappeared as simply “slightly distorted” in 2025. This suggests an impact damage that has not been repaired, or possibly a wheel that was only partially straightened. The nearside front tyre cracking is consistent with age and low mileage rather than heavy use; tyres can degrade from UV and time even when tread is deep. Beyond the wheel, earlier advisories show low front and rear brake pads in 2023, but no brake issues were raised in 2024 or 2025 – so those pads were likely replaced. The only other advisory was a worn wiper blade in 2022, which is trivial. The condition trend looks stable but with a lingering risk: the wheel distortion has not been corrected and could affect ride, tyre wear, and handling. The cracking tyre advice suggests the rubber is drying out.