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Mazda CX-5 reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 449,500 MOT tests of cars first registered 2012–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
82.6%pass first time
+3.9 ptsvs typical car
Beats 77%of cars
449,500MOT tests

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 passes its MOT first time on 82.6% of tests, 3.9 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.7%). That puts it ahead of 77% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2014 CX-5 does best (beats 81% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 74%).

Of its engines, the 2.2 Diesel does best (beats 78%) and the 2.0 Petrol worst (beats 76%).

Better than average on tyres, lights & electrics, emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Steering2.0×as often as a typical car
Track rod ends2.3×as often as a typical car
Linkage7.8×as often as a typical car
Anti-roll bar links1.8×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.

50%60%70%80%90%100%3456789101112131490%86%83%76%68%64%
Mazda CX-5Typical 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.

2012
Beats 80%
2013
Beats 75%
2014
Beats 81%
2015
Beats 76%
2016
Beats 74%
2017
Beats 79%
2018
Beats 78%
2019
Beats 77%
2020
Beats 74%
2021
Beats 69%
2022
Beats 76%
2023
Beats 72%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel2012–2022288,75080.7%Beats 78%B
2.0 Petrol2012–2023160,75086.0%Beats 76%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.

Exhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 3.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 3.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 4.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.2% 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.Lights: 3.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+3.6 ptsTyres: 3.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.3 ptsBrakes: 4.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.2% 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.Brakes+0.2 ptsSuspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension0.0 ptsExhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.4 ptsSuspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 4.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.2% 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.Tyres: 3.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 3.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 3.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+3.6 ptsTyres: 3.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.3 ptsBrakes: 4.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.2% 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.Brakes+0.2 ptsSuspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension0.0 ptsExhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.4 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Suspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

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

Suspension
4.5% vs 4.5%
Brakes
4.0% vs 4.2%
Tyres
3.9% vs 6.2%
Visibility
3.2% vs 3.8%
Lights & electrics
3.2% vs 6.7%
Steering
1.9% vs 0.9%
Emissions & leaks
1.2% vs 1.6%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.5%
Body & structure
0.2% vs 1.4%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Track rod ends 2.3× typical
    Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
  • Anti-roll bar links 1.8× typical
    A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k95%89%86%81%75%71%67%66%
Mazda CX-5Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake pads2.7%2.1%1.3×
Windscreen wipers2.3%2.0%1.1×
Tyre damage & cracking2.2%3.5%0.6×
Track rod ends1.9%0.8%2.3×
Coil springs1.5%1.5%1.0×
Headlight aim1.4%2.2%0.7×
Tyre tread depth1.4%2.4%0.6×
Suspension ball joints0.9%0.8%1.1×
Windscreen washers0.8%1.6%0.5×
Sidelights0.8%1.2%0.7×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm25.5
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen22.8
A tyre seriously damaged16.0
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn15.4
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play14.8
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened14.7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements14.4
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements14.1
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.

2023 Mazda CX-51 engine89.5% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol3,54289.5%Beats 72%B
2022 Mazda CX-52 engines90.2% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol10,35790.2%Beats 74%B
2.2 Diesel1,69989.9%Beats 83%A
2021 Mazda CX-52 engines88.9% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol13,74188.7%Beats 65%B
2.2 Diesel1,49490.7%Beats 94%A
2020 Mazda CX-52 engines88.8% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol17,41888.8%Beats 72%B
2.2 Diesel4,54488.4%Beats 79%B
2019 Mazda CX-52 engines87.5% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol34,68188.0%Beats 77%B
2.2 Diesel14,72086.5%Beats 79%B
2018 Mazda CX-52 engines86.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel31,18485.3%Beats 74%B
2.0 Petrol27,87087.5%Beats 82%A
2017 Mazda CX-52 engines84.8% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel35,66384.3%Beats 79%B
2.0 Petrol13,67885.9%Beats 80%B
2016 Mazda CX-52 engines82.0% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel44,53981.6%Beats 74%B
2.0 Petrol10,74083.4%Beats 73%B
2015 Mazda CX-52 engines80.4% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel53,82780.1%Beats 76%B
2.0 Petrol9,10481.9%Beats 76%B
2014 Mazda CX-52 engines78.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel51,76978.3%Beats 81%A
2.0 Petrol9,16679.9%Beats 81%A
2013 Mazda CX-52 engines74.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel39,90974.3%Beats 76%B
2.0 Petrol6,73474.5%Beats 69%B
2012 Mazda CX-52 engines73.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel9,40273.6%Beats 82%A
2.0 Petrol3,71973.0%Beats 76%B

FAQ

What is the Mazda CX-5 MOT pass rate?

82.6% of MOT tests on the Mazda CX-5 were passed first time, based on 449,500 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2012–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.7% of the time.

Is the Mazda CX-5 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 77% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Mazda CX-5 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2014 CX-5 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 81% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 74%.

Which Mazda CX-5 engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.2 Diesel does best: it beats 78% of cars on UK roads. The 2.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 76%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Mazda CX-5?

The most common failure items are brake pads, windscreen wipers, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 2.3× 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.