2010 Mazda Mx-5 MOT pass rate: 78.4% (13,686 tests)

2010-registered Mazda Mx-5s passed 78.4% of 13,686 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 11.1 points better than all UK cars registered in 2010 (67.3%). This is one of the strongest Mx-5 years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

78.4%Pass rate, 2010 cars

111.1Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

13,686Tests analysed

57,766 miMedian mileage at test

78.4% / 66.7%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2010 Mx-5 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2010-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	79.9% +11.8 vs same-age
2024	77.7% +10.6 vs same-age
2025	77.6% +10.7 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 2010 Mx-5

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	2,352	37.1%
2	Brakes	1,235	19.5%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	871	13.7%
4	Tyres	667	10.5%
5	Visibility	475	7.5%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	359	5.7%

All Mx-5 years compared

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 (this page)	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

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mazda Mx-5 years to avoid.

Buying a 2010 Mx-5? Two checks first

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 2010 Mazda Mx-5 reliable?

2010-registered examples passed 78.4% of their MOT tests (13,686 tests, 2023–2025), +11.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 16 years old with a median 57,766 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2010 Mx-5?

The median tested example shows 57,766 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.