2010 Mazda 6 2.2L Diesel · YF59 RKX

The 2010 Mazda 6 presents a mixed maintenance picture, with a broadly stable but ageing mechanical condition. The most recent MOT on 25 February 2023 at 168,547 miles passed, but the tester flagged a corroded rear sub-frame alongside binding service brakes on both front corners and a cut in the nearside rear tyre. These advisories, particularly the sub-frame corrosion, suggest long-term exposure to road salt or standing water rather than acute neglect, yet they warrant close inspection as the vehicle approaches its seventeenth year. Mileage accumulation has been remarkably consistent at roughly 10,500 miles per year, with no dramatic gaps or sudden spikes in the recorded history. The 2023 test sits just under 6,400 miles beyond the 2022 pass, and the 2022 test covered nearly 7,800 miles from the prior year. This steady usage pattern implies regular driving rather than prolonged storage, meaning wear-and-tear items like brakes, tyres, and suspension components have been exercised consistently rather than left to seize or perish from disuse. The brake system has drawn repeated attention across multiple tests. Front and rear discs were noted as worn, pitted, or scored in 2022, while binding was flagged on both the nearside and offside front service brakes in 2023 and excessively on the nearside front and both rears during the February 2021 failure. A prospective buyer should have the calipers, slide pins, and handbrake mechanisms inspected for seizure, and examine disc thickness and pad condition closely. Suspension advisories from 2022 regarding deteriorated lower arm ball joint dust covers on both front corners also demand attention, as failed covers accelerate joint wear and can lead to dangerous play. The rear sub-frame corrosion advisory from the latest test is the most structurally significant finding. While the tester judged that rigidity was not significantly reduced at the time of the 2023 pass, corrosion of this nature rarely improves with age. A buyer should arrange an underbody inspection on a ramp, probing the sub-frame and surrounding mountings for scaling, flaking, or thinning metal. Combined with the recurring brake and suspension advisories, this vehicle appears to have received just enough attention to pass its MOTs rather than proactive preventative upkeep.