2006 Mazda 3 1.6L Petrol · NA56 EBG

The vehicle shows a consistent history of corrosion-related issues typical of this model, despite low mileage. In the most recent test in February 2025 at 115,463 miles, the car passed despite advisories for worn and pitted front brake discs and front tyres reaching the legal limit. This follows a long-term pattern of brake wear, as front discs were also flagged as scorched or pitted in 2021 and 2023. While the vehicle has maintained its MOT, the record suggests that maintenance is often reactive, addressing faults rather than performing preventative replacement. At 115,463 miles over 20 years, the car has averaged roughly 5,700 miles per year. This low annual usage often correlates with the degradation of rubber components through age, which is evident in the repeated reports of perished tyres between 2019 and 2020. The significant failure in September 2021 at 76,527 miles highlighted multiple mechanical failures, including the steering rack, inner tie rods, suspension arm bushes, and ball joints. While these appear to have been addressed to pass the test, the recurring nature of structural corrosion remains a primary concern. Structural integrity is the most significant risk for this vehicle. The tester flagged corrosion on the front integral body structure in 2021, noting the floor pans were weak but structurally rigid. Additionally, the rear subframe has shown corrosion across multiple tests in 2020, 2022, and 2023. Although these were described as not seriously weakened, the persistent nature indicates an ongoing process. A buyer should specifically inspect the depth of rust on the floor pans and subframes to ensure the corrosion has not progressed to a point of structural failure since the last inspection.