Which Mazda models fail their MOT most
22.6% of Mazda cars fail first time, against 24.5% across every make. That is 1.9 points better than average, measured over 352,296 DVSA tests on 7 models.
Every Mazda in the data
Sorted by how many tests each one contributes, so the models most people actually buy come first. A linked row has a page of its own.
| Model | Years | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2010–2013 | 41,481 | 37.6% |
| 3 | 2014–2017 | 39,451 | 24.8% |
| 2 | 2014–2017 | 36,365 | 20.4% |
| CX-5 | 2014–2017 | 28,589 | 20.1% |
| 6 | 2014–2017 | 25,271 | 22.4% |
| 3 | 2010–2013 | 24,844 | 35.3% |
| CX-5 | 2018–2021 | 23,865 | 12.4% |
| 6 | 2010–2013 | 17,990 | 35.7% |
| 2 | 2018–2021 | 16,370 | 10.4% |
| 3 | 2018–2021 | 15,756 | 12.1% |
| MX-5 | 2014–2017 | 14,524 | 12.1% |
| MX-5 | 2010–2013 | 14,356 | 22.1% |
| CX-3 | 2018–2021 | 12,842 | 9.7% |
| CX-3 | 2014–2017 | 12,217 | 16.6% |
| 6 | 2018–2021 | 8,833 | 11.3% |
| MX-5 | 2018–2021 | 8,556 | 7.7% |
| CX-5 | 2010–2013 | 6,904 | 31.1% |
| 5 | 2010–2013 | 4,082 | 41.8% |
How a Mazda ages
The same manufacturer at three ages. Every make gets worse with age; what differs is how steeply, and that is the part worth knowing before you choose between a cheaper older one and a dearer newer one.
2018–2021
11%
86,222 tests
2014–2017
20.7%
156,417 tests
2010–2013
34.5%
109,657 tests
Best and worst in the range
Least likely to fail
- 7.7% MX-5 2018–2021
- 9.7% CX-3 2018–2021
- 10.4% 2 2018–2021
Most likely to fail
- 37.6% 2 2010–2013
- 35.7% 6 2010–2013
- 35.3% 3 2010–2013
Cohorts with at least 5,000 tests only, so a rare model cannot top either list on thin evidence.
What actually fails on a Mazda
Pooled across the whole range and weighted by test count. One model's worst fault is a fact about that model; the same fault across the range is a fact about the make.
- 2.6% Coil spring fractured or broken
- 2.2% Suspension arms ball joint excessively worn
- 2.1% Brake linings and pads less than 1.5 mm thick
- 1.5% Tyres tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
- 1.3% Visibility does not clear the windscreen effectively
- 1.1% Position lamp not working
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Check the actual Mazda you're looking at
This page is the make. Type the registration and you get that car's own MOT history, its mileage record, its tax status and the questions to ask the seller before you travel.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023. Class 4 standard tests only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mazda and its marks are the property of their owner and are used here to identify the manufacturer this page is about.