MOT performance
Mazda MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 1,069,099 MOT tests of Mazda cars in 2023–2024, 72.1% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Mazdas failed about as often as comparable cars. Of the 9 Mazda models with enough tests, the Mazda CX-30 failed least often relative to comparable cars.
1,069,099 MOT tests on 556,744 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 72.1% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,069,099 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.96× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.6% | n = 1,069,099 |
| Average age at test | 10.2 years | n = 1,069,099 |
Mazda models
Every Mazda model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 2 | 254,455 | 69.8% | 1.03× |
| Mazda 3 | 218,529 | 68.5% | 1.02× |
| Mazda MX-5 | 188,374 | 74.1% | 0.83× |
| Mazda 6 | 129,324 | 69.9% | 0.93× |
| Mazda CX-5 | 128,119 | 81.7% | 0.86× |
| Mazda CX-3 | 50,909 | 86.2% | 0.80× |
| Mazda 5 | 22,878 | 52.5% | 1.14× |
| Mazda CX-30 | 21,474 | 92.3% | 0.70× |
| Mazda Bongo | 21,062 | 54.7% | 1.12× |
Where Mazdas fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 10.8% | +19% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 9.4% | -19% |
| Brakes | 6.8% | -1% |
| Tyres | 5.3% | -14% |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.6% | -8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.2% | -8% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.4% | -33% |
| Steering | 1.7% | -7% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.2% | +18% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | -16% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | -21% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -38% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.08% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.81% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.71% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.53% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.22% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.86% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.34% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.27% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.27% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 1.14% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 128,683 | 89.2% | -16% |
| 5-6 | 147,920 | 84.2% | -11% |
| 7-8 | 163,548 | 77.9% | -9% |
| 9-10 | 122,603 | 71.1% | -6% |
| 11-12 | 103,859 | 64.0% | Same |
| 13-15 | 180,441 | 57.8% | +1% |
| 16+ | 181,916 | 60.0% | -1% |
MOT failures where Mazda stands out
Individual failure items that Mazdas record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Mazda MOT failure patterns.
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 1.90× comparable cars
- Stop lamp: not working · 0.48× comparable cars
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength · 1.97× comparable cars
Check a specific Mazda
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.