2014 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 51,354 MOT tests, the 2014 Mazda 2 recorded an 81.8% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (19.5% fail rate), the 2014 2 comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests against 5.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, wipers and coil spring — ball joint alone was recorded 3,099 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.7% versus 8.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 5,030 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 2,948 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 2,635 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.4% | 2,237 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 1,359 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.6% | 1,344 |
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 | 3,099 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,026 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,723 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 1,391 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,169 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,063 |
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 | 27.7% | 14,241 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.1% | 9,806 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 6,664 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.2% | 4,746 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,963 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.6% | 1,835 |
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 | 7,425 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 24,718 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 14,741 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,700 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 652 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 116 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,822 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 10,095 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 10,333 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 10,558 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 10,546 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 51,354 2014 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mazda 2?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2014 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,354 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.