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SM12 BUF

2012 Mazda 3

Gold Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Feb 2027
Tests15 (12 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

129,555 mi
Last recorded129,555 miles
Recorded on25 Feb 2026
Typical for 2012 Mazda 361,274 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationSM12 BUF
MakeMazda
Model3
Year2012
ColourGold
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

12 pass 3 fail
Pass 25 Feb 2026 129,555 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2025 125,073 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing cracks on sidewall inner (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

all underbody and suspension components have age related corrosion

Fail 6 Feb 2025 125,073 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing cracks on sidewall inner (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

all underbody and suspension components have age related corrosion

Pass 5 Feb 2024 120,487 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Sub frame and suspension componants corroded

Pass 6 Feb 2023 114,608 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge badly wearing inner edge will not be long before cords start to show (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 6 Feb 2023 114,608 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge low and wearing inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front steering rack arm has slight free play

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge low and wearing inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front fog light not working

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge badly wearing inner edge will not be long before cords start to show (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Feb 2022 108,601 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inside edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 8 Feb 2021 97,934 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

centre exhaust heat shield loose

unable to test most lower engine area due to covers

unable to test most underside vehicle due to covers

Pass 4 Feb 2020 88,536 miles

unable to test most brake pipes due to grease

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 12 Feb 2019 77,622 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

unable to test most lower engine area due to covers

unable to test most underside vehicle due to covers

unable to test nsr seat belt due to fitted child seat

Fail 12 Feb 2019 77,622 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

unable to test most lower engine area due to covers

unable to test most underside vehicle due to covers

unable to test nsr seat belt due to fitted child seat

Pass 22 Jan 2018 65,193 miles

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Nearside Rear tyre slight deterioration

Offside Rear tyre slight deterioration

Pass 23 Jan 2017 53,566 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2016 48,374 miles

both front tyres worn on edges 2055017

Pass 5 May 2015 30,312 miles

How Reliable is the Mazda 3?

Based on 2,040,939 MOT tests across 164,053 vehicles.

77.5%
Pass Rate
6,292
Miles/Year
22
Year Lifespan
164,053
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 40,716
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 18,089
position lamp(s) not working 17,568
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 13,995
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 11,940
Full Mazda 3 reliability report

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SM12 BUF is a 2012 Mazda 3 in Gold with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 2012 Mazda 3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 80.6% with a typical mileage of 61,274 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Mazda 3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 40,716 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SM12 BUF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda 3 typically stays on UK roads for around 22 years. At 14 years old, this Mazda 3 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SM12 BUF?

You can check the full history of SM12 BUF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SM12 BUF registered?

SM12 BUF is a 2012 Mazda 3, first registered on 23 May 2012.

Is SM12 BUF safe to buy?

The MOT history for SM12 BUF shows 15 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SM12 BUF have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on SM12 BUF. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.