2022 Mazda 2 -L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,156 MOT tests, the 2022 Mazda 2 -L recorded a 95.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (8.1% fail rate), the 2022 2 -L comes out 3.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.5%) and brakes (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 30 times.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 12.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 29 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.7% | 20 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.7% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 15 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 30 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 23 |
| 3 | Washers | 10 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Wipers | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.3% | 142 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.5% | 110 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 54 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 9 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 4 |
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 | 967 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 178 | 9.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45 | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 1,109 | 4.6% |
What to check before buying a 2022 2 -L
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (1.7% 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.
- Tyres (1.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2022 Mazda 2 -Ls pass their MOT?
95.6% of the 1,156 2022 Mazda 2 -L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Mazda 2 -L?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.5% of tests, followed by brakes (1.7%).
Does the 2022 2 -L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,156 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.