Mazda 2 -L MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mazda 2 -L appears in 6,750 MOT tests spanning model years 2015–2023, and 94.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.0% of the time, so this is 3.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are visibility, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (2.6%) and lighting & signalling (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 173 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 10.7% once past 60-90k — 2.6× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 2 -L model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 170 | 92.3% | 7.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 3,867 | 94.5% | 5.5% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 1,451 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 1,156 | 95.6% | 4.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 95 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 2.6% | 179 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 171 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 134 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.8% | 120 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 10 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 8 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 173 |
| 2 | Wipers | 171 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 142 |
| 4 | Washers | 58 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 52 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 20 |
| 8 | Brake discs | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 14.1% | 950 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 745 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 304 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 184 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 59 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 24 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 5,146 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,488 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,706 | 5.3% |
| Hybrid | 44 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 89 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 1,349 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 2,056 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 3,254 | 5.9% |
What to check before buying a Mazda 2 -L
- Visibility (2.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda 2 -L?
94.7% of the 6,750 Mazda 2 -L MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 5.3% fail rate, across model years 2015–2023.
What does the Mazda 2 -L most often fail its MOT on?
Visibility, recorded in 2.6% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.5%).
How much does mileage affect 2 -L MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.7% for 60-90k, a 6.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,750 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.