2018 Mazda Cx-5 MOT pass rate: 88.6% (29,806 tests)
Is the 2018 Cx-5 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 89.6% +1.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 88.8% +2.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 87.4% +2.6 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 Cx-5
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,621 | 30.3% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,460 | 27.3% |
| 3 | Visibility | 793 | 14.8% |
| 4 | Suspension | 711 | 13.3% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 324 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 223 | 4.2% |
All Cx-5 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,209 | 70.1% | -1.2 pts | 95,593 |
| 2013 | 15,145 | 70.5% | -2.8 pts | 93,929 |
| 2014 | 20,071 | 75.6% | -0.2 pts | 86,229 |
| 2015 | 20,830 | 78.8% | +0.1 pts | 78,261 |
| 2016 | 20,946 | 81.2% | -0.1 pts | 68,523 |
| 2017 | 21,422 | 86.3% | +2.3 pts | 58,075 |
| 2018 (this page) | 29,806 | 88.6% | +2.2 pts | 46,787 |
| 2019 | 29,912 | 90.5% | +2.1 pts | 37,118 |
| 2020 | 9,981 | 92.2% | +2.3 pts | 28,661 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mazda Cx-5 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2018 Mazda Cx-5 reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 88.6% of their MOT tests (29,806 tests, 2023–2025), +2.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 46,787 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 Cx-5?
The median tested example shows 46,787 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.