MOT pass rates / Mazda
Mazda MOT pass rates and common failures
Mazda cars passed 72% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 464,373 class-4 initial tests and 21 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks Mazda 32nd of 59 makes in the dataset.
Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older Mazda is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.
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What Mazda cars fail on
The items most often behind a first-test failure across Mazda model groups, as a share of Mazda tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.
- Suspension Arms — 3.9% of Mazda tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Condition — 3.1% of Mazda tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Position Lamps — 2.6% of Mazda tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Headlamp Aim — 2.1% of Mazda tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Anti-roll Bars — 2% of Mazda tests. Worn anti-roll bar links or bushes. Inexpensive but often recurring.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 1.9% of Mazda tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Brake Performance — 1.9% of Mazda tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Springs — 1.4% of Mazda tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
Mazda MOT pass rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 66,185 | 89% |
| 6–9 years | 151,603 | 80.8% |
| 10–14 years | 128,551 | 65.2% |
| 15–30 years | 117,924 | 58.7% |
Mazda models by MOT pass rate
| Model | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 110,432 | 68.1% |
| 3 | 101,042 | 68.8% |
| Mx-5 | 81,811 | 74.2% |
| Cx-5 | 56,078 | 80.5% |
| 6 | 55,662 | 69.4% |
| Cx-3 | 20,212 | 85.2% |
| 5 | 8,199 | 51.6% |
| Bongo | 8,082 | 53.8% |
| 2 GT Sport NAV MHEV | 3,059 | 90.9% |
| Cx-30 | 2,966 | 91.9% |
| Rx-8 | 2,400 | 67% |
| Cx-30 Se-l LUX MHEV | 2,241 | 91.2% |
| Cx-5 Sport | 1,998 | 87.6% |
| Cx-30 GT Sport MHEV | 1,835 | 91.9% |
| 2 Sport NAV MHEV | 1,428 | 91.5% |
| 2 Se-l NAV MHEV | 1,271 | 91.4% |
| Cx-5 Sport Auto | 1,234 | 88.7% |
| Cx-30 GT Sport Tech MHEV | 1,182 | 92.6% |
| B Series | 1,128 | 59.5% |
| Cx-30 Sport LUX MHEV Auto | 1,088 | 92.5% |
| 323 | 1,025 | 57.8% |
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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