2007 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mazda 3 passed 71.5% of its 39,630 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 3 comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.0%) and suspension (17.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 3,903 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.4% in the 0-30k band and 32.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (31.3% vs 28.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 47.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 7,144 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 7,045 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 2,809 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 2,528 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 2,227 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 1,809 |
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 | 3,903 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,630 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,585 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,551 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 2,354 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,823 |
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 | 47.4% | 18,769 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.9% | 11,832 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.0% | 10,320 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 6,806 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 6,222 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 4,962 |
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 | 448 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,702 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 10,900 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 13,685 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 7,867 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,021 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 38,094 | 28.4% |
| Diesel | 1,536 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,207 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 9,129 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 7,997 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 6,812 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 5,485 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 3
On a 2007 3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.8% 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.
- Brakes (7.1% 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 2007 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 39,630 2007 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mazda 3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.0% of tests, followed by suspension (17.8%).
Does the 2007 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,630 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.