2012 Mazda 6 1.8L Petrol · SW12 EXK

The 2012 Mazda 6 holds a valid MOT pass from 18 February 2026 at 116,498 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The day before, on 17 February 2026 at 116,496 miles, the same vehicle failed with excessively corroded front brake pipes and an exhaust Lambda failure. The pass certificate the following day suggests a quick repair rather than a thorough fix, as the same sub-frame and suspension corrosion advisories reappeared unchanged. Recurring corrosion across the sub-frames, all rear suspension arms, and both front lower suspension arms has been a persistent feature since at least February 2024, indicating long-standing neglect of structural underbody condition rather than isolated incidents. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. From 81,014 miles in February 2023 to 92,675 miles in February 2024, then 105,646 miles in February 2025, and finally 116,498 miles in February 2026, the car has covered roughly 11,000 to 13,000 miles per year over the past three years. This is slightly above the 8,321 miles per year average implied by its age, pointing to sustained regular use rather than long periods of inactivity. The MOT record itself is fairly complete with annual tests, though the gap between February 2023 and February 2024 shows no missed years, and the record density increases notably from 2024 onward as corrosion issues began accumulating. A buyer should treat the underside as the primary concern. The repeated advisories on both sub-frames, all rear suspension arms, and front lower suspension arms under reference 5.3.3 (b) (i) mean corrosion is widespread across the structural and suspension mounting points. While none were deemed seriously weakened at the last test, the progression from "covered in grease or other material" to "excessively corroded" on the front brake pipes between 2024 and the 2026 failure shows deterioration is accelerating. The rear brake pipes remain flagged as corroded and contaminated with grease, a combination that can mask active pitting. Both front brake discs were noted as worn, pitted, or scored in both February 2026 tests, and the minor central exhaust leak also appeared on both the failed and passed tests, suggesting it was not addressed during the repair. Before committing, have a workshop inspect the sub-frame mounting points, rear suspension arm bushings, and all four brake pipe runs with the vehicle on a lift, paying particular attention to the front pipes that were replaced just before the pass. Check the front brake discs for scoring depth and the rear brake pads, which were flagged as wearing thin back in February 2023 at 81,014 miles and may now be due for replacement given the subsequent 35,000 miles of use. The exhaust Lambda reading failure linked to the central exhaust leak also warrants a smoke test to confirm the leak has not worsened or shifted downstream of the oxygen sensor.