2004 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Mazda 3 passed 68.2% of its 7,031 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests against 18.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 701 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.4% versus 20.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 46.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.2% in 2021 to 30.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 1,512 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.1% | 1,276 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 531 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.4% | 524 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 497 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 488 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 701 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 670 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 569 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 558 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 512 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 448 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 46.8% | 3,293 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.4% | 2,204 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.9% | 1,823 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 1,417 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 1,289 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 925 |
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 | 94 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 793 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,009 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,312 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,336 | 36.3% |
| 150k+ | 483 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,895 | 31.8% |
| Diesel | 136 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,312 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 1,722 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 1,302 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 996 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 699 | 30.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.1% 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.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 2004 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 7,031 2004 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mazda 3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests, followed by suspension (18.1%).
Does the 2004 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 0-30k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,031 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.