2012 Mazda 2 MOT pass rate: 69.2% (26,147 tests)
Is the 2012 2 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 71.0% -1.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 68.6% -2.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 68.0% -2.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 2
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6,791 | 37.1% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2,853 | 15.6% |
| 3 | Tyres | 2,406 | 13.1% |
| 4 | Brakes | 1,984 | 10.8% |
| 5 | Steering | 1,800 | 9.8% |
| 6 | Visibility | 1,227 | 6.7% |
All 2 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,542 | 67.2% | +2.9 pts | 81,798 |
| 2005 | 3,209 | 65.0% | +0.5 pts | 80,247 |
| 2006 | 3,689 | 67.1% | +2.6 pts | 76,588 |
| 2007 | 7,958 | 65.8% | +0.6 pts | 84,860 |
| 2008 | 23,030 | 60.2% | -4.9 pts | 93,613 |
| 2009 | 35,679 | 62.8% | -3.6 pts | 87,646 |
| 2010 | 36,356 | 63.7% | -3.6 pts | 82,916 |
| 2011 | 31,217 | 66.6% | -2.6 pts | 73,137 |
| 2012 (this page) | 26,147 | 69.2% | -2.0 pts | 66,739 |
| 2013 | 25,301 | 70.7% | -2.6 pts | 63,830 |
| 2014 | 24,935 | 74.6% | -1.2 pts | 56,049 |
| 2015 | 29,446 | 81.7% | +3.0 pts | 53,190 |
| 2016 | 29,879 | 83.9% | +2.6 pts | 47,243 |
| 2017 | 22,713 | 87.8% | +3.8 pts | 38,934 |
| 2018 | 23,882 | 90.3% | +4.0 pts | 32,064 |
| 2019 | 24,068 | 92.4% | +4.0 pts | 25,023 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mazda 2 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Mazda 2 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 69.2% of their MOT tests (26,147 tests, 2023–2025), -2.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 66,739 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 2?
The median tested example shows 66,739 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.