2017 Mazda 6 2.2L Diesel · OV67 AHE

Brake wear is the defining theme of this Mazda 6's test history, with discs and pads flagged on almost every examination since 2020, though the trajectory is currently favourable: the June 2026 test passed with no defects recorded at all, a clean result that follows a November 2024 pass carrying advisories for worn brake discs at all four corners and thin nearside rear pads. The record also contains two same-day fail-then-pass events, in September 2022 for a missing offside front road wheel fixing and in November 2024 where the failure entry carries only brake advisories, both rectified and retested on the same date. Beyond the brakes, the only other defect noted is a severely deteriorated nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover recorded as a minor in September 2023. Taken together, the pattern is one of recurring consumable wear items being monitored and addressed rather than any structural or corrosion concern, and no rust, suspension component, or emissions defect appears anywhere in the history. At 142,864 miles over roughly nine years, the car has averaged close to 15,900 miles annually, well above the typical UK figure and consistent with sustained motorway or commuting use. Tests have been conducted regularly with no significant gaps, and the annual rhythm of brake advisories aligns with this accumulation rate: front pads were flagged in 2020, both rear pads in 2022, a pitted and scored offside rear disc in 2023, and all four discs plus a rear pad in 2024. High-mileage use of this kind places continuous demand on braking components, suspension bushes, and drivetrain parts, so the repeated brake advisories are unsurprising, though the clean 2026 pass suggests the flagged items were renewed between tests. For a prospective buyer, the braking system warrants the closest attention given its dominance of the record. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or scraping under braking that would indicate pads worn to the backing plates, and feel for judder or pulsing through the pedal and steering wheel, which points to warped or unevenly worn discs, a plausible follow-on from the pitted offside rear disc noted in 2023. Check that the car tracks straight under firm braking from speed, as pull to one side can indicate a binding caliper or uneven pad wear, and inspect the disc surfaces visually for heavy lipping at the outer edge, which signals they are approaching minimum thickness. The anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover flagged in 2023 should also be verified, since a perished gaiter admits dirt and moisture that accelerates joint wear; listen for knocking or rattling from the front suspension over uneven surfaces and speed bumps, which would indicate the link itself has since worn. Given the 2022 missing wheel fixing, it is worth confirming all wheel nuts or bolts are present, correctly torqued, and that a locking wheel nut key is supplied with the car. Finally, with mileage this high, request evidence of what brake components were actually replaced after the 2024 advisories, as the clean 2026 result is consistent with recent renewal but the MOT record alone cannot confirm it.