2007 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mazda 2 passed 74.4% of its 19,342 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2007 2 comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.7%) and suspension (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 1,331 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.7% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.4% fail against 28.1% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 19,342 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 2,658 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 2,394 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 1,338 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,210 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 1,157 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 831 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,331 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,158 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,057 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 932 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 918 |
| 6 | Wipers | 844 |
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 | 32.3% | 6,241 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.9% | 5,787 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.1% | 5,629 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 3,018 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.3% | 2,958 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 1,771 |
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 | 641 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,949 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,573 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 5,277 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,257 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 640 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 18,458 | 25.4% |
| Diesel | 884 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,573 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 4,362 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 3,943 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 3,468 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 2,996 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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 (6.9% 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 2007 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 19,342 2007 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mazda 2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2007 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,342 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.