2012 Mazda Mx-5 MOT pass rate: 83.4% (9,116 tests)
Is the 2012 Mx-5 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84.4% +12.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 82.0% +11.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 83.8% +13.6 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 2012 Mx-5
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 1,050 | 34.9% |
| 2 | Brakes | 701 | 23.3% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 407 | 13.5% |
| 4 | Tyres | 342 | 11.4% |
| 5 | Visibility | 219 | 7.3% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 184 | 6.1% |
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 | 13,686 | 78.4% | +11.1 pts | 57,766 |
| 2011 | 9,996 | 80.1% | +10.9 pts | 52,209 |
| 2012 (this page) | 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.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Mazda Mx-5 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 83.4% of their MOT tests (9,116 tests, 2023–2025), +12.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 47,648 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Mx-5?
The median tested example shows 47,648 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.