MOT performance
2018 Mazda MX-5: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 8,550 MOT tests on 2018-registered Mazda MX-5s in 2023–2024 (on average 4.8 years old at test, median 21,745 miles), 90.5% passed first time, 16.4 points higher than the Mazda MX-5 overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2018 Mazda MX-5s failed 26% less often than comparable cars.
8,550 MOT tests on 4,213 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 90.5% | ±0.6 pts (95%), n = 8,550 |
| All Mazda MX-5s | 74.1% | n = 188,374 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.74× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 3.1% | n = 8,550 |
| Average age at test | 4.8 years | n = 8,550 |
Where 2018 Mazda MX-5s fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's view of the road | 2.9% | -13% |
| Brakes | 2.8% | +36% |
| Tyres | 2.5% | -38% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.9% | -31% |
| Suspension | 0.5% | -66% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.2% | -65% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% | +14% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.1% | -75% |
| Road wheels | 0.0% | -62% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.0% | -86% |
| Steering | 0.0% | -94% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.95% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.74% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 0.92% |
| Headlamp aim: too high | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.88% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 0.71% |
Check a specific 2018 Mazda MX-5
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.
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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.