2012 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 57,265 MOT tests, the 2012 Mazda 2 recorded a 77.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 7.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and shock absorbers — ball joint alone was recorded 4,385 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.4% versus 12.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.8% fail against 28.8% for diesel, a 6.0-point gap across 57,265 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.3% | 8,214 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 4,132 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 3,144 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,681 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.3% | 2,437 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.1% | 1,767 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 4,385 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,048 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 2,292 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 2,249 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,240 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,853 |
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 | 26.8% | 15,367 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 12,281 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.1% | 11,512 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.1% | 6,379 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.4% | 4,215 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 3,656 |
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 | 4,970 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 21,099 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 20,696 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,173 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,851 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 470 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 56,433 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 832 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,463 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 11,622 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 11,499 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 11,469 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 11,212 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 2012 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 57,265 2012 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mazda 2?
Suspension, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.2%).
Does the 2012 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,265 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.