2008 Mazda 5 MOT pass rate: 56.8% (5,474 tests)
Is the 2008 5 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 56.4% -9.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 55.8% -9.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 58.9% -6.2 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 2008 5
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 2,647 | 30.5% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,704 | 19.6% |
| 3 | Brakes | 965 | 11.1% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 954 | 11.0% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 874 | 10.1% |
| 6 | Tyres | 733 | 8.4% |
All 5 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,971 | 53.7% | -10.7 pts | 113,260 |
| 2007 | 4,579 | 53.7% | -11.4 pts | 115,006 |
| 2008 (this page) | 5,474 | 56.8% | -8.3 pts | 110,039 |
| 2009 | 3,751 | 56.3% | -10.1 pts | 101,972 |
| 2010 | 4,224 | 58.9% | -8.5 pts | 100,126 |
| 2011 | 2,391 | 64.2% | -4.9 pts | 99,603 |
| 2012 | 2,335 | 66.0% | -5.2 pts | 95,250 |
| 2013 | 2,250 | 66.4% | -7.0 pts | 89,452 |
| 2014 | 1,741 | 69.4% | -6.4 pts | 84,016 |
| 2015 | 2,048 | 72.7% | -6.1 pts | 72,492 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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FAQs
Is a 2008 Mazda 5 reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 56.8% of their MOT tests (5,474 tests, 2023–2025), -8.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 110,039 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 5?
The median tested example shows 110,039 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.