2016 Mazda 6 2.2L Diesel · SL66 LMU

A pattern of deteriorating front-end suspension components and recurring corrosion defines the mechanical history of this vehicle. While it achieved a pass on 2026-04-01, this followed a failure just days prior due to an excessively worn offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint and a faulty position lamp. This follows a similar failure in March 2025 regarding the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, suggesting a trend of wear in the steering and suspension geometry. The recorded mileage of 152,072 miles is high for a ten-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 15,207 miles per year. This level of usage typically accelerates the wear of drivetrain components, suspension bushings, and braking consumables. The transition from a clean record in 2021 and 2022 to a series of failures and advisories from 2023 onwards aligns with the vehicle entering a high-mileage phase where structural and mechanical wear becomes more evident. Attention must be paid to the front suspension and braking system during a physical inspection. The records highlight corrosion on both the nearside and offside front suspension arms, as well as corrosion on the front brake pipes which were noted as being covered in grease to mitigate deterioration. During a test drive, listen for knocking or clunking sounds when traversing uneven surfaces or during low-speed manoeuvres, as these are typical symptoms of worn ball joints and suspension linkages. The braking system requires close scrutiny due to previous advisories for thin front brake pads and worn discs. Additionally, the most recent test on 2026-04-01 flagged both offside and nearside rear tyres as being worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edges. A prospective buyer should check for any steering pull or pedal judder and verify the current tread depth and wear patterns of the rear tyres to ensure they have not deteriorated further since the last inspection.