Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 74.6% of Mazda MX-5 MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 89,659 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
92.8%
All cars: 86.1% (6.7 points better). 5,519 tests.
At 6–10 years
87.3%
All cars: 76.1% (11.2 points better). 18,818 tests.
At 11 years and over
69.4%
All cars: 61.3% (8.1 points better). 65,321 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1,425 | 94.4% | 87.8% | 16,250 miles |
| 4 | 1,156 | 93.2% | 86.4% | 18,750 miles |
| 5 | 2,938 | 91.9% | 84.5% | 21,250 miles |
| 6 | 4,210 | 89.6% | 81.9% | 26,250 miles |
| 7 | 4,099 | 89.0% | 79.3% | 31,250 miles |
| 8 | 4,112 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 33,750 miles |
| 9 | 3,710 | 86.0% | 73.1% | 38,750 miles |
| 10 | 2,687 | 82.1% | 70.0% | 38,750 miles |
| 11 | 2,914 | 79.1% | 66.9% | 46,250 miles |
| 12 | 3,076 | 79.7% | 64.4% | 48,750 miles |
| 13 | 3,092 | 77.2% | 62.1% | 53,750 miles |
| 14 | 4,083 | 74.6% | 60.2% | 58,750 miles |
| 15 | 4,465 | 72.1% | 58.6% | 63,750 miles |
| 16 | 4,347 | 69.6% | 57.5% | 68,750 miles |
| 17 | 6,128 | 69.2% | 57.2% | 73,750 miles |
| 18 | 6,788 | 68.5% | 57.0% | 76,250 miles |
| 19 | 4,363 | 66.5% | 57.2% | 76,250 miles |
| 20+ | 26,065 | 65.6% | 61.4% | 88,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Mazda MX-5 MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | MX-5 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 15.0% | 13.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.4% | 16.6% |
| Brakes | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.8% | 4.0% |
| Visibility | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.7% | 4.2% |
| Tyres | 4.3% | 8.4% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 2.3% | 1.1% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Coil spring: fractured or broken failed 3.3% of tests · what this means
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength failed 3.2% of tests
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 2.5% of tests · what this means
- Service brake performance: excessively binding failed 2.5% of tests · what this means
- Position lamp: not working failed 2.4% of tests · what this means
- Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits failed 1.9% of tests · what this means
- Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced failed 1.8% of tests
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick failed 1.6% of tests · what this means
- Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt failed 1.6% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect failed 1.5% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular MX-5?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every MX-5 version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: petrol 100.0%, diesel 0.0%, electric 0.0%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Mazda models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.