Mazda 6 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Mazda 6 passes its MOT first time on 69.1% of tests, 2.1 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (67.0%). That puts it ahead of 61% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 6 does best (beats 86% of cars) and the 2007 worst (beats 42%).

Of its engines, the 2.2 Diesel does best (beats 67%) and the 1.8 Petrol worst (beats 41%).

Better than average on body & structure, steering.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.4×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance2.1×as often as a typical car

Ball joint dust covers3.9×as often as a typical car

Brake performance1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Mazda 6Typical car, same age & mileage

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.

Beats 36%

Beats 31%

Beats 31%

Beats 31%

Beats 46%

Beats 42%

Beats 47%

Beats 64%

Beats 63%

Beats 55%

Beats 59%

Beats 80%

Beats 75%

Beats 74%

Beats 67%

Beats 69%

Beats 77%

Beats 86%

Beats 76%

Beats 86%

Beats 93%

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	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	2009–2019	288,253	73.2%	Beats 67%	B
2.0 Petrol	2002–2022	221,313	68.7%	Beats 59%	C
1.8 Petrol	2003–2012	38,500	56.3%	Beats 41%	C
2.0 Diesel	2005–2009	32,543	53.1%	Beats 44%	C
2.5 Petrol	2008–2019	13,638	67.9%	Beats 65%	B
2.3 Petrol	2005–2007	5,573	58.3%	Beats 61%	B

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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 10.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

11.6% vs 14.1%

Brakes

10.8% vs 8.0%

Suspension

9.7% vs 10.8%

Tyres

6.1% vs 7.4%

Visibility

4.7% vs 5.3%

Emissions & leaks

3.0% vs 3.6%

Body & structure

2.2% vs 3.8%

Seat belts & airbags

1.4% vs 1.1%

Steering

0.8% vs 2.2%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Handbrake performance 2.1× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Brake performance 1.8× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Mazda 6Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	4.7%	3.5%	1.3×
Handbrake performance	3.3%	1.6%	2.1×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.3%	3.8%	0.9×
Brake pads	3.2%	2.4%	1.3×
Headlight aim	2.9%	3.7%	0.8×
Windscreen wipers	2.7%	2.3%	1.2×
Tyre tread depth	2.4%	3.2%	0.8×
Brake performance	2.2%	1.2%	1.8×
Headlight bulbs & units	2.1%	2.5%	0.8×
Coil springs	1.9%	2.9%	0.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	37.7
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	30.2
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	29.1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	27.9
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	27.2
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	25.5
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	24.3
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	24.0

Check another car

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.

2022 Mazda 61 engine91.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,076	91.1%	Beats 93%	A

2021 Mazda 61 engine90.3% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,467	90.3%	Beats 86%	A

2020 Mazda 61 engine89.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	2,770	89.4%	Beats 76%	B

2019 Mazda 63 engines88.2% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	12,103	88.5%	Beats 83%	A
2.2 Diesel	7,335	87.0%	Beats 88%	A
2.5 Petrol	2,221	90.4%	Beats 94%	A

2018 Mazda 63 engines85.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	9,090	86.4%	Beats 74%	B
2.2 Diesel	8,929	84.1%	Beats 77%	B
2.5 Petrol	1,081	89.8%	Beats 92%	A

2017 Mazda 62 engines82.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	19,557	81.1%	Beats 66%	B
2.0 Petrol	12,806	85.5%	Beats 76%	B

2016 Mazda 62 engines80.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	38,829	79.7%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Petrol	15,868	82.4%	Beats 66%	B

2015 Mazda 62 engines79.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	46,492	78.8%	Beats 74%	B
2.0 Petrol	14,145	81.5%	Beats 73%	B

2014 Mazda 62 engines76.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	44,835	76.1%	Beats 75%	B
2.0 Petrol	12,785	78.4%	Beats 74%	B

2013 Mazda 62 engines75.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	28,549	74.2%	Beats 79%	B
2.0 Petrol	10,896	77.0%	Beats 82%	A

2012 Mazda 63 engines67.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	16,045	65.6%	Beats 54%	C
2.0 Petrol	5,698	72.6%	Beats 73%	B
1.8 Petrol	5,225	70.0%	Beats 60%	B

2011 Mazda 63 engines64.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	27,005	62.4%	Beats 52%	C
2.0 Petrol	10,277	67.9%	Beats 63%	B
1.8 Petrol	1,431	64.1%	Beats 45%	C

2010 Mazda 64 engines63.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	31,482	61.1%	Beats 59%	C
2.0 Petrol	15,900	66.7%	Beats 70%	B
1.8 Petrol	4,836	65.4%	Beats 66%	B
2.5 Petrol	1,951	70.0%	Beats 83%	A

2009 Mazda 65 engines61.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	19,195	61.6%	Beats 66%	B
2.0 Petrol	16,769	63.6%	Beats 67%	B
1.8 Petrol	5,450	60.9%	Beats 56%	C
2.0 Diesel	3,312	55.5%	Beats 45%	C
2.5 Petrol	1,972	62.8%	Beats 66%	B

2008 Mazda 64 engines55.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	17,931	56.6%	Beats 50%	C
2.0 Diesel	16,340	53.6%	Beats 45%	C
2.5 Petrol	6,413	57.4%	Beats 55%	C
1.8 Petrol	4,797	54.1%	Beats 39%	D

2007 Mazda 64 engines54.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	25,217	54.5%	Beats 43%	C
2.0 Diesel	7,125	53.0%	Beats 45%	C
1.8 Petrol	3,613	49.6%	Beats 25%	D
2.3 Petrol	1,569	60.6%	Beats 63%	B

2006 Mazda 64 engines53.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	14,219	53.6%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Diesel	4,450	52.1%	Beats 47%	C
1.8 Petrol	4,044	50.3%	Beats 31%	D
2.3 Petrol	2,758	61.5%	Beats 70%	B

2005 Mazda 64 engines47.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	12,153	49.0%	Beats 33%	D
1.8 Petrol	4,346	46.1%	Beats 25%	D
2.0 Diesel	1,316	44.2%	Beats 26%	D
2.3 Petrol	1,246	48.5%	Beats 33%	D

2004 Mazda 62 engines47.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	4,798	47.6%	Beats 34%	D
1.8 Petrol	3,599	46.4%	Beats 28%	D

2003 Mazda 62 engines46.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	3,816	46.4%	Beats 31%	D
1.8 Petrol	1,159	45.2%	Beats 30%	D

2002 Mazda 61 engine48.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,529	48.7%	Beats 36%	D

FAQ

What is the Mazda 6 MOT pass rate?

69.1% of MOT tests on the Mazda 6 were passed first time, based on 599,820 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 67.0% of the time.

Is the Mazda 6 reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 61% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Mazda 6 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 6 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 86% of cars on UK roads. The 2007 does worst: it beats 42%.

Which Mazda 6 engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.2 Diesel does best: it beats 67% of cars on UK roads. The 1.8 Petrol does worst: it beats 41%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Mazda 6?

The most common failure items are sidelights, handbrake performance, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, handbrake performance comes up 2.1× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Mazda 6 reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ