2021 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,395 MOT tests on the 2021 Mazda 2 are in this dataset, and 95.1% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (7.8% fail rate), the 2021 2 comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.9%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 66 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 70 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 63 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 41 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 35 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.1% | 3 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 66 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 35 |
| 3 | Wipers | 34 |
| 4 | Washers | 17 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 8 |
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 | 13.2% | 315 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 194 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.4% | 81 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 54 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 8 |
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 | 2,022 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 347 | 8.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 46 | 2.2% |
| 2024 | 1,154 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 1,185 | 5.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.9% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 2021 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
95.1% of the 2,395 2021 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Mazda 2?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.6%).
Does the 2021 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,395 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.