2004 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · FM53 AAV

The vehicle presents a concerning trend of structural degradation that has progressed from surface corrosion to critical failure. While it passed tests in earlier years, the most recent inspection on 1 August 2025 at 105,946 miles resulted in multiple serious failures. The tester identified excessive corrosion on the nearside and offside front suspension mounting areas, significantly reducing structural strength. This is accompanied by a weakened offside seat belt anchorage on the inner arch and two fractured rear coil springs. These findings indicate that the underlying structural integrity of the chassis has reached a point where significant repairs are required to maintain roadworthiness. At 105,946 miles over 22 years, the car has averaged fewer than 5,000 miles per year. This low annual usage often correlates with the moisture-related corrosion and brake pitting seen in the record. Between 2016 and 2020, the vehicle passed inspections without defects, but since March 2021, the record shows a consistent decline. Components like the front sub-frame, suspension arms, and brake pipes have been repeatedly flagged for corrosion over several years, suggesting that while the car is driven infrequently, it has suffered from significant environmental damage or a lack of preventative rust treatment. Mechanical maintenance appears reactive rather than proactive, with issues only addressed upon failure. The 2025 failure also highlighted a faulty supplementary restraint system warning lamp and a loose seat belt anchorage, alongside thin brake pads on all axles. Previous issues with a leaking rear brake pipe in 2022 and corroded fuel lines suggest that the fluid-carrying systems are also vulnerable. Given the recent structural failures on the chassis mounting points and inner arches, the vehicle represents a high-risk investment requiring a comprehensive structural inspection to determine the extent of the rot beyond the visible MOT points.