Mazda Mx-5 MOT pass rate: 78.2% (87,222 tests, 2025)

The Mazda Mx-5 passed 78.2% of its 87,222 MOT tests in 2025 — right on the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 17 years old with 61,590 miles on the clock.

78.2%Pass rate (2025)

87,222MOT tests analysed

61,590 miMedian mileage at test

17 yrsMedian age at test

How the Mx-5 compares

Mazda Mx-5

78.2%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Mazda average (all models)

77.3%

What fails most on the Mazda Mx-5

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Mx-5:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	13,780	26.9%
2	Brakes	10,305	20.1%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	8,222	16.0%
4	Noise, emissions and leaks	6,013	11.7%
5	Body, chassis, structure	4,278	8.3%
6	Tyres	3,764	7.3%

Pre-MOT checklist for Mx-5 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
A blowing exhaust or visible smoke will fail; warm the engine fully before the test
Look underneath for corrosion around sills and subframes, especially on older cars

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

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

Mx-5 pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2010, 2012. Full ranking and method: Mazda Mx-5 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2001	5,684	70.8%	+4.2 pts	86,982
2002	9,244	70.1%	+4.4 pts	82,958
2003	11,885	67.6%	+2.6 pts	78,199
2004	9,368	68.6%	+4.2 pts	77,564
2005	9,568	69.2%	+4.7 pts	73,751
2006	18,548	69.9%	+5.5 pts	75,796
2007	22,414	73.8%	+8.7 pts	72,632
2008	15,776	74.1%	+9.0 pts	67,603
2009	12,271	76.6%	+10.2 pts	62,694
2010	13,686	78.4%	+11.1 pts	57,766
2011	9,996	80.1%	+10.9 pts	52,209
2012	9,116	83.4%	+12.2 pts	47,648
2013	9,094	84.4%	+11.1 pts	44,454
2014	8,356	85.8%	+9.9 pts	38,186
2015	8,720	89.2%	+10.5 pts	36,745
2016	12,087	89.8%	+8.5 pts	33,644
2017	13,412	92.7%	+8.7 pts	27,424
2018	12,511	93.3%	+6.9 pts	23,672
2019	11,826	94.7%	+6.4 pts	18,756

Check a specific Mx-5 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Mazda models

273.1% pass rate · 113,741 tests 373.9% pass rate · 103,889 tests Cx-581.1% pass rate · 57,112 tests 673.6% pass rate · 55,083 tests Cx-386.5% pass rate · 24,672 tests 560.4% pass rate · 8,754 tests Bongo59.5% pass rate · 8,682 tests Cx-3093.6% pass rate · 4,440 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Mazda Mx-5?

In 2025, 78.2% of 87,222 first MOT tests on the Mazda Mx-5 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Mx-5 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (26.9% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the Mazda Mx-5 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 78.2% it performs above the national average at a median age of 17 years and 61,590 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.