2010 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
55,843 MOT tests on the 2010 Mazda 3 are in this dataset, and 75.5% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 24.2%, so the 2010 3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and malfunction indicator lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 5,563 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.4% versus 10.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (26.2% vs 24.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 7,510 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 7,202 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 4,039 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 3,262 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 2,824 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 2,277 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 5,563 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,612 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,041 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,011 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,891 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,644 |
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 | 37.2% | 20,752 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 16,209 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.8% | 13,864 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 8,110 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.1% | 5,633 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 4,776 |
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 | 682 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,689 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 18,216 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 18,738 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 8,518 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,994 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 43,391 | 24.1% |
| Diesel | 12,452 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,939 | 22.3% |
| 2022 | 11,812 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 11,388 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 10,805 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 9,899 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 3
On a 2010 3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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 2010 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 55,843 2010 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mazda 3?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.9%).
Does the 2010 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,843 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.