2004 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Mazda 2 passed 74.0% of its 6,895 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 6.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 625 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.3% versus 11.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.5pp more often than petrol ones (30.0% vs 25.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.2% in 2021 to 24.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 1,156 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 736 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 676 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 423 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 389 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 350 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 625 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 502 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 471 |
| 4 | Wipers | 377 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 335 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 319 |
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 | 37.4% | 2,577 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.2% | 2,220 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 1,997 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 1,325 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.2% | 1,116 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 984 |
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 | 215 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,458 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,310 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,823 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 794 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 295 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,021 | 25.5% |
| Diesel | 874 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,013 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 1,606 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 1,347 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 1,100 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 829 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 2
On a 2004 2, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.8% 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
How many 2004 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 6,895 2004 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mazda 2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.7%).
Does the 2004 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 35.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,895 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.