2018 Mazda 6 MOT pass rate: 87.0% (9,599 tests)
Is the 2018 6 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 88.9% +0.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 87.2% +1.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 85.0% +0.2 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 2018 6
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 576 | 28.9% |
| 2 | Brakes | 536 | 26.9% |
| 3 | Suspension | 308 | 15.4% |
| 4 | Visibility | 276 | 13.8% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 125 | 6.3% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 91 | 4.6% |
All 6 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,422 | 57.5% | -6.9 pts | 96,553 |
| 2006 | 3,940 | 62.7% | -1.7 pts | 101,492 |
| 2007 | 6,883 | 61.8% | -3.4 pts | 106,786 |
| 2008 | 9,954 | 63.2% | -2.0 pts | 120,672 |
| 2009 | 11,434 | 67.0% | +0.5 pts | 118,712 |
| 2010 | 14,983 | 66.6% | -0.8 pts | 116,773 |
| 2011 | 11,719 | 67.0% | -2.2 pts | 111,026 |
| 2012 | 8,448 | 69.3% | -1.9 pts | 100,350 |
| 2013 | 12,210 | 72.5% | -0.9 pts | 99,892 |
| 2014 | 18,246 | 75.1% | -0.8 pts | 94,170 |
| 2015 | 19,564 | 77.7% | -1.1 pts | 85,267 |
| 2016 | 20,382 | 79.9% | -1.4 pts | 74,178 |
| 2017 | 13,943 | 83.6% | -0.5 pts | 63,275 |
| 2018 (this page) | 9,599 | 87.0% | +0.7 pts | 50,638 |
| 2019 | 13,106 | 90.4% | +2.0 pts | 39,402 |
| 2020 | 3,101 | 93.1% | +3.2 pts | 27,779 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mazda 6 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2018 Mazda 6 reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 87.0% of their MOT tests (9,599 tests, 2023–2025), +0.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 50,638 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 6?
The median tested example shows 50,638 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.