2017 Mazda Cx-3 2.0L Petrol · WF67 FJC

A clear pattern of brake and suspension wear emerges across the recorded test history of this Mazda CX-3, with the front and rear brake pads flagged as wearing thin in 2023 and then deteriorating to a dangerous condition by September 2024, when both axles were recorded at under 1.5 mm of friction material and the vehicle failed the test outright. The advisory issued at the same time noted rear brake disc surface deterioration in the form of pitting or scoring, indicating the discs had been working alongside heavily worn pads for some period. The tyre condition has also been a recurring subject of advisories, with inner and outer edge wear flagged across multiple tests and perishing noted on the rear pair in 2024, while the most recent pass in September 2025 introduced two minor defects for severely deteriorated suspension arm ball joint dust covers on both sides. Although the car ultimately passed that 2025 test, the accumulation of advisories across consecutive years points to consumables and rubber components reaching the later stages of their service life, and the fact that dangerous brake wear was allowed to develop between the 2023 advisory and the 2024 failure suggests brake inspections may not have been prioritised between annual tests. Against an age of roughly nine years, the recorded mileage of 45,441 miles equates to an average annual accumulation of approximately 5,000 miles, which is notably low for the vehicle's age. There are no significant gaps in the testing record, with annual tests consistently carried out from 2020 onwards, indicating the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods. Lower annual mileage of this nature generally results in slower wear of drivetrain and high-load components, but it can allow standing-start corrosion to develop on brake discs, under-bonnet components, and exposed metalwork, while rubber seals, bushes, and tyres can deteriorate through age rather than use. The brake disc pitting noted in 2024 is consistent with this profile, as lightly used discs are prone to surface corrosion becoming established if braking effort is insufficient to clean the rotor faces during normal driving. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas are the front and rear brake system, which has now been freshly attended to following the dangerous failure, the rear brake discs for any renewed roughness or lipping, and the suspension arm ball joint dust covers flagged as severely deteriorated in the latest test, as perished covers permit contamination of the joint and accelerate wear. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed humps and pothole impacts, and check for any wander in the steering or uneven tyre wear patterns on the inner or outer shoulders, as the edge wear advisories from 2024 could recur if geometry has been disturbed. Inspect all four tyres closely for cracking in the sidewalls and tread grooves, as perishing was noted on both rear tyres in 2024 and rubber of this age continues to harden regardless of remaining tread depth. Confirm the age of the replacement brake pads and discs through paperwork, and verify whether the deteriorated ball joint covers were renewed alongside the brake work or remain outstanding, as contaminated ball joints will eventually require replacement of the complete arm assembly.