2015 Mazda 6 2.0L Petrol · SC15 TLK

The most recent MOT, carried out on 6 January 2026, was passed but returned a number of advisories concerning front lower suspension arm pins or bushes, the off‑side front brake pipe and the rear registration plate. The preceding test, 23 December 2025, resulted in a failure due to an excessively worn off‑side front lower anti‑roll‑bar linkage ball joint, with additional advisories on the same front suspension points. Earlier MOTs show a clean pass in 2024 and a series of passes in 2022‑2023, while a serious brake‑disc failure and inadequate brake effort were recorded in mid‑2020. The pattern suggests that after the major brake work in 2020 the vehicle returned to a generally acceptable state, but the recent suspension wear indicates a regression and a need for renewed attention to the front suspension components. With 60 292 miles recorded on a 2015 model, the vehicle averages roughly 5 500 miles per year, well below the typical UK usage of 8‑10 000 miles annually. Such low annual mileage often points to periods of limited use or prolonged storage, which can be benign for wear‑dependent parts but may accelerate age‑related degradation of rubber, metal and fluid systems. The modest mileage means that consumables such as tyres, brake pads and discs are unlikely to have been exhausted solely by distance, yet the 2020 brake‑disc failure indicates that the discs may have been compromised by corrosion or heat cycling rather than wear alone. Prospective owners should therefore treat the vehicle as a low‑mileage, high‑age example where time‑based deterioration is as significant as mileage‑based wear. Buyers should give particular focus to the front suspension assembly. Inspect the lower control‑arm bushes and the anti‑roll‑bar ball joint for any play, cracking or oil seepage; a firm push on the wheel at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions should reveal any excessive movement. On a test drive listen for clunking or knocking when navigating bumps or turning, and feel for any wandering or vague steering response that could betray worn bushings. The front brake pipe, noted as corroded and coated in grease, should be examined for rust, pitting or compromised protective coating; any signs of fluid leakage or a damp, metallic odour when the brakes are applied would merit replacement. Verify that the brake discs have been resurfaced or replaced since the 2020 failure – visual inspection should show uniform disc thickness, no deep scoring and no excessive rust, and the pedal should feel firm without sponginess. Given the vehicle’s age, also check for age‑related issues independent of the MOT record. Examine the tyre sidewalls for cracking, dry rot or hardening, especially on the near‑side front tyre that was previously close to the legal limit. Assess the 12‑volt battery for charge holding and corrosion on terminals, as long periods of inactivity can reduce capacity. Look for signs of chassis corrosion, particularly around the wheel arches and underbody, and verify that all fluid reservoirs (engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and power‑steering fluid) have been topped up and, where appropriate, replaced according to the service schedule. A full service history, with stamps confirming timely oil changes and coolant flushes, will provide confidence that the vehicle’s time‑based maintenance has been kept up to date despite its low mileage.