2016 Mazda CX-5 2.2L Diesel · LL16 FNK

A deteriorating front suspension and a flagged engine management warning define the recent MOT picture for this Mazda CX-5. The most recent test on 1 September 2025 produced a pass, but only after an earlier presentation on the same date recorded a failure with three significant items. The failure listed the engine MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) as inoperative or indicating a malfunction, marked as a Major, alongside an excessively worn nearside front lower suspension ball joint, also Major. With advisories already on file for the offside front lower suspension rear wishbone bush and steering column universal joint play in 2024, there is a developing pattern of front-end wear that demands attention rather than reassurance. The simultaneous presence of a Major MIL item and Major suspension wear in one test is the clearest mechanical signal in the record. Mileage of 131,584 on a 2016 vehicle equates to roughly 13,158 miles annually, which is high for the car's age. The MOT record itself is short, with five tests captured between February 2022 and September 2025, and the gap between the March 2023 and September 2024 tests suggests either a missed annual test or a period off the road. High annual mileage of this nature places greater demand on suspension components, braking hardware, tyres and drivetrain bearings than a typical CX-5 of similar age would have absorbed. Combined with the recurring front suspension advisories, the usage profile reinforces that consumables and under-bushes on this chassis will be closer to the end of their functional life than the odometer alone might suggest for a family SUV. Any prospective buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension assembly during a physical inspection and test drive. The advisories on the offside front lower rear wishbone bush and steering column intermediate shaft universal joint, together with the Major failure on the nearside front lower ball joint, point to components that should be examined for splits, cracking, perished rubber, and free play when the wheels are rocked by hand. On the road, listen for clonks or thuds from the front wheels over speed humps and uneven surfaces, feel for imprecise steering with wander or delay returning to centre, and check for uneven front tyre wear which often accompanies worn suspension linkages. Given that the offside rear tyre was also flagged as worn close to the legal limit and on its edge, a close look at all four tyres for inner-edge wear patterns is warranted. The engine MIL Major on the September 2025 failure is equally important and should not be dismissed because the vehicle subsequently passed. The retest presumably followed repair or a lamp bulb or system reset, but the underlying cause for the MIL illuminating is not recorded. Prior to purchase, an OBD-II diagnostic scan should be requested to confirm no current or pending fault codes are stored, particularly for emissions, misfire, or sensor-related issues that commonly affect Mazda SKYACTIV engines at higher mileages. A thorough road test should also include watching for the engine warning light during cold start and idle, any hesitation under throttle, and visible exhaust smoke. Until both the suspension wear and the MIL history have been physically verified and resolved, this CX-5 should be regarded as carrying meaningful mechanical risk despite the clean pass on paper.