2018 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,625 MOT tests, the 2018 Mazda 2 recorded a 92.7% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.2% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.1%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 1,286 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.3% versus 5.0%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,367 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 1,332 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 1,044 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 1,032 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 489 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,286 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 792 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 677 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 660 |
| 5 | Washers | 406 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 226 |
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 | 20.9% | 9,122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 5,353 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 2,029 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,405 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 760 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 196 |
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 | 25,794 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 15,059 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,434 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 289 | 14.5% |
| 120-150k | 30 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,578 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 8,646 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 8,772 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 8,751 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 8,878 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 3.1% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (3.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Brakes (2.4% 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 2018 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 43,625 2018 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mazda 2?
Visibility, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2018 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,625 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.