2020 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,126 MOT tests, the 2020 Mazda 2 recorded a 95.1% pass rate. That is 4.0 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 8.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.9%) and visibility (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 102 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 8.9% versus 4.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 6.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 121 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 107 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 11 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 102 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 45 |
| 4 | Washers | 26 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 14 |
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 | 14.5% | 600 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 380 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 155 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 133 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 50 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 14 |
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 | 3,232 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 830 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 56 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 36 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 1,359 | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 1,350 | 5.1% |
| 2025 | 1,374 | 6.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 2
On a 2020 2, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
- Visibility (2.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% 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 2020 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
95.1% of the 4,126 2020 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mazda 2?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2020 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,126 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.