2004 Mazda Bongo Friendee 2.0L Petrol · MH54 OBF

The most recent MOT on 2026-02-12 recorded a minor defect: slight play in the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, classified under 5.3.4 (a) (i). This is the first recorded issue involving this specific component, though the vehicle passed the test. The defect is described as “slight,” suggesting it may not yet pose an immediate safety risk but requires monitoring. A significant pattern emerges from the 2025 MOT history. On 2025-02-10, the vehicle failed due to “excessively worn” nearside and offside front suspension arm ball joints, both under the same regulation. These defects were addressed before the subsequent 2025-02-12 MOT, which passed with no recorded issues. This indicates that the suspension joints were repaired or replaced, but the 2026 defect suggests potential recurring or unresolved issues in the suspension system. The trend shows a mix of stability and caution. The 2025 failure highlights a serious mechanical risk that was corrected, and the following MOTs were clean. However, the 2026 defect introduces a new concern, albeit minor.