Mazda B Series MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 1,128 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 59.5% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — below the 71.2% UK average.
Checking a Mazda B Series?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 15–30 years | 1,119 | 59.3% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Mazda B Series to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Front and Rear Fog Lamps — 10% of tests. A fog light fault, usually a bulb or switch.
- Transmission — 6.9% of tests. A fault with a driveshaft, gaiter or transmission component. Costs vary widely.
- Chassis — 6.6% of tests. Corrosion or damage to the structure. The most serious thing on this list — inspect it.
- Brake Performance — 6.3% of tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Headlamp Aim — 5.7% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Headlamps — 5.5% of tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Mazda B Series are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 1,897 licensed and 2,331 SORN vehicles in the Mazda B Series generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Mazda B Series
Before you buy
- Front and Rear Fog Lamps — 10% of tests in 2024. A fog light fault, usually a bulb or switch.
- Transmission — 6.9% of tests in 2024. A fault with a driveshaft, gaiter or transmission component. Costs vary widely.
- Chassis — 6.6% of tests in 2024. Corrosion or damage to the structure. The most serious thing on this list — inspect it.
- Brake Performance — 6.3% of tests in 2024. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Ask why it was off the road — Of the 4,228 B Series vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (2,331 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
- Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 73% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 6,944. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
- Check the actual B Series — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Mazda models
- Mazda 2 — 68.1% pass
- Mazda 3 — 68.8% pass
- Mazda Mx-5 — 74.2% pass
- Mazda Cx-5 — 80.5% pass
- Mazda 6 — 69.4% pass
- Mazda Cx-3 — 85.2% pass
See every Mazda model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Mazda B Series MOT pass rate?
59.5% of 1,128 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Mazda B Series passed first time in 2024 — below the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the B Series fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are front and rear fog lamps (10% of tests), transmission (6.9% of tests), chassis (6.6% of tests), brake performance (6.3% of tests).
How many Mazda B Series are left in the UK?
1,897 were licensed and 2,331 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular B Series is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
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.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.