Verdict
The Mazda 5 passes its MOT first time on 52.5% of tests, 7.5 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (60.0%). That puts it ahead of 20% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2008 5 does best (beats 19% of cars) and the 2007 worst (beats 17%).
Of its engines, the 2.0 Diesel does best (beats 27%) and the 1.8 Petrol worst (beats 15%).
Better than average on steering.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, 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.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 52.5% | Beats 21% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 47.6% | Beats 15% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 51.2% | Beats 27% | D |
| 1.6 Diesel | 66.0% | Beats 22% | D |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Suspension ball joints 2.9× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 3.3× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems. - Shock absorbers 2.7× typical
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers. - Tyre damage & cracking 1.7× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Anti-roll bar links 3.0× typical
A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix). - Exhaust system 2.3× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidelights | 7.1% | 5.1% | 1.4× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 6.7% | 4.0% | 1.7× |
| Suspension ball joints | 6.5% | 2.2% | 2.9× |
| Suspension arm bushes | 5.9% | 1.8% | 3.2× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 5.3% | 3.3% | 1.6× |
| Shock absorbers | 4.5% | 1.7% | 2.7× |
| Exhaust emissions (catalyst) | 4.5% | 1.4% | 3.3× |
| Exhaust system | 4.4% | 1.9% | 2.3× |
| Headlight aim | 4.3% | 4.6% | 0.9× |
| Windscreen wipers | 4.2% | 2.5% | 1.6× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 145.7 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 56.4 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 42.9 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 42.0 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 41.9 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 41.3 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 40.7 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 40.2 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. 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.
2015 Mazda 52 engines72.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 70.5% | Beats 12% | E |
| 2.0 Petrol | 75.3% | Beats 31% | D |
2014 Mazda 52 engines68.5% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 66.6% | Beats 17% | E |
| 2.0 Petrol | 72.2% | Beats 33% | D |
2013 Mazda 52 engines64.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 63.1% | Beats 22% | D |
| 2.0 Petrol | 66.3% | Beats 29% | D |
2012 Mazda 54 engines64.7% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 66.0% | Beats 45% | C |
| 1.6 Diesel | 62.7% | Beats 35% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 64.4% | Beats 32% | D |
| 2.0 Diesel | 65.3% | Beats 50% | C |
2011 Mazda 53 engines60.7% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 62.0% | Beats 39% | D |
| 2.0 Diesel | 57.9% | Beats 28% | D |
| 1.6 Diesel | 62.6% | Beats 48% | C |
2010 Mazda 53 engines52.8% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 53.6% | Beats 19% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 51.1% | Beats 13% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 53.2% | Beats 25% | D |
2009 Mazda 53 engines50.5% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 51.6% | Beats 19% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 48.0% | Beats 12% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 51.8% | Beats 25% | D |
2008 Mazda 53 engines48.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 48.8% | Beats 20% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 46.5% | Beats 14% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 49.5% | Beats 26% | D |
2007 Mazda 53 engines45.4% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 45.1% | Beats 16% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 44.7% | Beats 15% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 47.2% | Beats 24% | D |
2006 Mazda 53 engines45.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 45.4% | Beats 21% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 44.8% | Beats 18% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 47.5% | Beats 30% | D |
2005 Mazda 52 engines44.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 43.7% | Beats 20% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 46.7% | Beats 27% | D |
FAQ
What is the Mazda 5 MOT pass rate?
52.5% of MOT tests on the Mazda 5 were passed first time, based on 126,552 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2005–2015. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 60.0% of the time.
Is the Mazda 5 reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 20% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Mazda 5 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2008 5 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 19% of cars on UK roads. The 2007 does worst: it beats 17%.
Which Mazda 5 engine is best?
Across all years, the 2.0 Diesel does best: it beats 27% of cars on UK roads. The 1.8 Petrol does worst: it beats 15%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Mazda 5?
The most common failure items are sidelights, tyre damage & cracking, suspension ball joints. Compared with similar cars, suspension ball joints comes up 2.9× as often.