Verdict
Mazdas pass their MOT first time on 71.4% of tests, against 70.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 56% of cars on UK roads and ranks Mazda 18th of 40 makes, about average.
The CX models do best: the CX-30 beats 87% of cars, the CX-3 79% and the CX-5 77%. The MX-5 beats 72% and the Mazda6 61%. The two most tested models are below average: the Mazda3 beats 47% and the Mazda2 38%. The Bongo beats 44%, and the Mazda5 only 20%, the one to check most carefully.
Suspension is Mazda's most common fail, on about 1 in 9 tests, about a sixth more often than a typical car, and seat belts and airbags fail about a quarter more often. Mazdas fail about a third less often on body and structure, and less often on lights and electrics and steering. Brakes fail at about the typical rate.
Where it fails
Every Mazda compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Mazda models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 2003–2023 | 70.5% | Beats 38% | D |
| 3 2004–2023 | 68.8% | Beats 47% | C |
| MX-5 1989–2022 | 72.8% | Beats 72% | B |
| 6 2002–2022 | 69.1% | Beats 61% | B |
| CX-5 2012–2023 | 82.6% | Beats 77% | B |
| CX-3 2015–2019 | 86.7% | Beats 79% | B |
| 5 2005–2015 | 52.5% | Beats 20% | D |
| Bongo 1995–2016 | 53.7% | Beats 44% | C |
| CX-30 2020–2022 | 91.1% | Beats 87% | A |
| RX-8 2003–2009 | 64.4% | Beats 62% | B |
FAQ
What is Mazda's MOT pass rate?
71.4% of Mazda MOT tests were passed first time, from 4.4 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.5%, so Mazda is about average.
Are Mazdas reliable?
On MOT results Mazda is about average: it beats 56% of cars on UK roads and ranks 18th of 40 makes. The CX-30, CX-3, CX-5 and MX-5 do well; the Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda5 do worse. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Mazda models are most reliable?
The CX-30 beats nearly nine in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and the CX-3 and CX-5 nearly eight in ten. The MX-5 beats about seven in ten.
Which Mazda should I check most carefully?
The Mazda5 beats only about one in five cars. Of the most common Mazdas, the Mazda2 beats fewer than four in ten and the Mazda3 just under half.
What are the most common MOT failures on Mazdas?
Suspension (about 1 in 9 tests, a sixth more often than a typical car), lights and electrics (about 1 in 10) and brakes (about 1 in 14).