2008 Mazda 3 1.6L Petrol · FM08 FSO

The Mazda 3 passed its most recent MOT on 28 September 2023 at 146,497 miles with no defects recorded, indicating the vehicle presented as roadworthy at that time. The maintenance trend appears stable on paper, though the test history shows two anomalous failures on the preceding days, 27 September 2023 and 16 August 2022, both logged with zero recorded defects. Such entries usually reflect administrative re-tests or documentation errors rather than mechanical faults, so no worsening mechanical condition is evidenced across the five-year span. Mileage accumulation is broadly typical for an 18-year-old car, averaging around 8,139 miles per year. The record shows 107,236 miles at the July 2021 test, rising to 128,663 miles by August 2022 and 146,497 by September 2023, a steady annual increase of roughly 19,000 to 18,000 miles in the later period, above the lifetime average but not extreme. Sparse testing between 2021 and 2022 leaves a 15-month gap, and the two failure entries without defects mean the DVSA data offers limited insight into consumable wear or hidden corrosion during those windows. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of structural integrity and underbody corrosion, as the clean MOT advisories do not rule out age-related rust on sills, subframes, or suspension mounting points common on 2008-era Japanese hatchbacks. The tester logged no advisories on brake discs, suspension bushes, or coil springs, yet at 146,000 miles these components are due for close measurement of wear and any binding calipers. Given the two zero-defect failures and the absence of recorded advisories, previous ownership likely kept basic statutory compliance but the record itself is too thin to confirm proactive upkeep of tyres, wiper blades, or exhaust emissions between tests. Verify the 2023 pass remains the last valid certificate and inspect for intermittent electrical or emissions faults that a single test day may not expose.