2003 Mazda Bongo 2.0L Petrol · WH03 BXX

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a significant decline in mechanical oversight in recent years. While the Mazda passed its July 2025 test at 86,793 miles, this followed a comprehensive failure just seven days prior at 86,788 miles. That failure revealed critical deficiencies across the braking, steering, and suspension systems. Although the immediate faults appear to have been addressed for the pass, the sheer volume of defects recorded in a single session suggests a vehicle that has been subjected to reactive maintenance rather than proactive preventative care. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 23-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 3,774 miles per year. There is a notable gap of roughly 9,500 miles between July 2023 and July 2024, and another 9,300+ miles between July 2024 and July 2025. This low usage explains the presence of wear on consumables like pitted brake discs, but it also indicates long periods of inactivity, which often leads to the degradation of rubber components and surface corrosion on metal parts. The lack of defects in the 2022 test at 54,741 miles contrasts sharply with the escalating list of failures thereafter, suggesting the vehicle's condition has deteriorated recently. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the suspension and steering geometry. The July 2025 failure flagged excessive play in the inner steering linkage and worn anti-roll bar bushes, so the buyer should verify that these components were actually replaced rather than merely adjusted. The braking system remains a recurring concern; records show pitted and scored discs across all four wheels in multiple years, indicating potential caliper seizing or persistent surface corrosion due to low use. Given the age and low mileage, the inspector should also check for hidden structural corrosion in the sills and brake light lines, as stationary vehicles often suffer from internal rot that high-mileage vehicles avoid.