2007 Mazda 5 1.8L Petrol · ST07 KTF

Structural corrosion and recurring suspension wear define this Mazda 5's recent history. The April 2023 test produced a serious failure for a rear sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened, with suspension arm mounting areas excessively corroded to the point of significantly reducing structural strength, alongside an excessively worn offside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joint. Although the vehicle passed in May 2023, 2024 and most recently on 18 May 2026, the pattern has not fully settled: the May 2026 test came only four days after a failure listing an excessively worn offside front suspension arm ball joint, a seriously leaking nearside rear shock absorber, an inoperative offside rear door handle, and headlamp and position lamp defects. Advisories on the latest pass include slight play in the nearside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, a front fluid leak, sill covers preventing full inspection of the sills, and missing rearmost passenger seats. Ball joint wear has now appeared on both front lower arms and both rear anti-roll bar links across 2023, 2024 and 2026, indicating ongoing suspension component fatigue rather than isolated faults. At 151,714 miles over roughly 19 years, the car has averaged about 7,985 miles annually, which is typical for its age and suggests consistent year-round use rather than long lay-ups. The test record shows no significant gaps, with annual tests each May since 2022, so the mileage accumulation appears steady. This level of use is entirely consistent with the wear items recorded: suspension bushes, ball joints, shock absorbers and exhaust components on a car of this age and mileage would be expected to require periodic replacement, and the record confirms several have already been attended to following failures. A prospective buyer should prioritise verification of the 2023 structural repairs. The rear sub-frame and suspension mounting corrosion was serious enough to fail on safety grounds, so evidence of proper welding or replacement work should be sought, and the underside inspected for any recurrence of corrosion, particularly given that sill covers now prevent full inspection of the sills, an area where rust can progress unseen. On a test drive, listen for knocking or clonking over bumps from the front suspension and rear anti-roll bar links, given the repeated ball joint advisories and failures, and check for any wallowing or uneven ride that might indicate the replacement rear shock absorber and its counterpart are mismatched or tired. The front fluid leak noted in May 2026 warrants identification of its source, whether engine oil, power steering fluid or coolant, and monitoring of fluid levels accordingly. The lighting circuit has caused failures in both 2024 and 2026, so all lamps and headlamp aim should be checked for correct operation, and the offside rear door should be confirmed to open freely from outside. Tyres on the nearside rear have been flagged for edge wear, cracking and nails in 2023, so tread condition and even wear across all four corners should be verified, with uneven inner-edge wear potentially pointing to rear suspension geometry issues consistent with the car's history of corrosion and component wear in that area.