Mazda MX-5: what fails at MOT
106,000 MOT tests on the Mazda MX-5 in 2024, counted. 20.8% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
20.8% of Mazda MX-5 tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 31%, so the MX-5 does better than most cars its age.
It fails most often on suspension (5.3% of tests), brakes (4.1% of tests) and lights and electrics (3.9% of tests).
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,669 | 5.4% | 10.9% | 12,100 7,900 to 19,000 |
| 2020 | 1,964 | 4.5% | 11.5% | 14,900 10,800 to 22,300 |
| 2019 | 6,748 | 8.5% | 13.4% | 19,200 12,300 to 28,200 |
| 2018 | 7,382 | 8.7% | 15.6% | 23,500 15,300 to 33,800 |
| 2017 | 7,555 | 9.1% | 18.2% | 27,700 18,300 to 39,500 |
| 2016 | 6,898 | 11.8% | 21.3% | 34,500 23,000 to 47,400 |
| 2015 | 4,634 | 14.1% | 24.4% | 36,700 24,900 to 50,600 |
| 2014 | 4,355 | 15.7% | 27.7% | 38,200 24,300 to 52,200 |
| 2013 | 4,578 | 18.4% | 30.6% | 45,500 32,000 to 60,700 |
| 2012 | 4,687 | 20.8% | 33.4% | 48,000 33,400 to 65,800 |
| 2011 | 4,873 | 23.8% | 36.1% | 52,400 36,200 to 69,800 |
| 2010 | 6,761 | 24.7% | 38.6% | 58,100 40,600 to 76,500 |
| 2009 | 6,037 | 25.7% | 39.8% | 63,100 45,900 to 83,000 |
| 2008 | 7,535 | 29.2% | 41.5% | 67,300 48,700 to 87,900 |
| 2007 | 10,930 | 28.7% | 41.5% | 73,100 53,600 to 93,800 |
| 2006 | 8,958 | 31.7% | 42.4% | 75,700 57,100 to 95,900 |
| 2005 | 4,709 | 36.7% | 42.2% | 75,100 55,100 to 95,700 |
| 2004 | 4,465 | 35.4% | 42.3% | 80,100 59,200 to 100,200 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Mazda MX-5 tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | MX-5 | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 5.3% | 7.5% | Less than most |
| Brakes | 4.1% | 5.5% | Less than most |
| Lights and electrics | 3.9% | 9.2% | Less than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 2.3% | 3.5% | Less than most |
| Tyres | 1.9% | 4.4% | Less than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.8% | 2.7% | Less than most |
| Body and structure | 1.3% | 3.1% | Less than most |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.6% | 0.9% |
The parts that fail most
- Footbrake2.0%
- Coil spring1.9%
- Tyre1.4%
- Headlamp aim1.4%
- Wipers1.3%
- Corrosion near suspension mountings1.2%
- Brake pads1.1%
- Washers1.1%
- Side light1.1%
- Exhaust emissions1.0%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%
- Footbrake: excessively binding1.7%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.2%
- Corrosion near suspension mountings: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.1%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
- Side light: not working1.0%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.8%
- Exhaust emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.7%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam0.6%
- Engine warning light: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.6%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.4%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5.6%
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge5.6%
- Brake pads: wearing thin4.7%
- Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened3.3%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively3.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.5%
- Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play1.7%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
Check a Mazda MX-5's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.