Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate and common faults
MOT tests in 2025, published 22 Jun 2026. DVSA publishes a new year each summer.
90,903 Mazda MX-5 cars had an MOT in 2025 and 74.9% passed first time. That is above what cars of the same ages scored (65.6%).
Find the year your car was first registered below, then check the faults it is most likely to fail on.
Pass rate by year
Each year's first-time pass rate, with a tick for all cars first used that year. Years with fewer than 300 tests, and cars over 20 years old, are left out. Years with 1,000 or more tests link to a page of their own, with that year's common faults.
| Item | Mazda MX-5 | All cars that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 94.1% | 88.5% |
| 2021 | 94.6% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 91.8% | 86.0% |
| 2019 | 91.4% | 83.5% |
| 2018 | 89.2% | 80.9% |
| 2017 | 89.1% | 78.2% |
| 2016 | 86.1% | 74.9% |
| 2015 | 85.3% | 71.9% |
| 2014 | 80.4% | 68.6% |
| 2013 | 79.3% | 65.8% |
| 2012 | 79.6% | 63.5% |
| 2011 | 76.1% | 61.2% |
| 2010 | 73.2% | 59.3% |
| 2009 | 71.4% | 58.3% |
| 2008 | 68.8% | 57.2% |
| 2007 | 69.7% | 57.4% |
| 2006 | 67.0% | 57.0% |
| 2005 | 66.1% | 57.6% |
Source: DVSA, tests in 2025, published 22 June 2026.
Common failures
The share of all Mazda MX-5 cars tested that failed on, or had fixed at the station, each item. Worth checking before the MOT or before you buy.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | 2.8% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | 2.2% |
| Position lamp: not working | 2.1% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 2.1% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 2.0% |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 1.9% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 1.4% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | 1.3% |
Source: DVSA, tests in 2025, published 22 June 2026.
Common advisories
Advisories are things the tester noticed that were not bad enough to fail. They often turn into failures later. What advisories mean for the next MOT.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.8% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 8.7% |
| Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 8.5% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 6.9% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 6.7% |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 4.7% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | 4.7% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | 4.0% |
Source: DVSA, tests in 2025, published 22 June 2026.
Typical mileage
Recorded mileage at the MOT. A car well above the range for its age has done more work than most; one far below is worth a closer look at its MOT history.
| Age | Low | Typical | High | All cars, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 9,900 | 15,700 miles | 23,400 | 30,900 |
| 6-8 years | 18,100 | 27,600 miles | 39,800 | 51,800 |
| 9-11 years | 26,700 | 39,400 miles | 55,300 | 73,500 |
| 12-14 years | 35,600 | 50,900 miles | 69,300 | 91,400 |
| 15-17 years | 47,100 | 65,400 miles | 85,800 | 101,600 |
| 18-20 years | 55,700 | 75,400 miles | 95,800 | 106,700 |
| 21+ years | 65,300 | 88,400 miles | 113,200 | 99,200 |
The middle half of cars fall between the low and high figures. Source: DVSA, tests in 2025, published 22 June 2026.
Reliability and recalls
- Mazda MX-5 reliability score, adjusted for age and ranked against other models.
- 9 recalls for the Mazda MX-5, from the DVSA recalls list.
- Check if a Mazda has been recalled on GOV.UK, using its registration.
- All Mazda models and the Mazda vehicle history check.
Checking one car?
These figures describe groups of cars. A vehicle history report shows the full MOT history, mileage, outstanding finance, write-offs and stolen records for one registration.
Figures from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing data for MOT tests in 2025, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Analysis by Motoring Insider. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we work out these figures.
Every dataset we use is listed on our data sources page, with the credit lines on our attribution page.