2013 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
31,388 MOT tests on the 2013 Mazda 3 are in this dataset, and 81.9% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 19.5% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.1%) and tyres (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 2,242 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 150k — 3.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.9% fail against 21.9% for diesel, a 5.1-point gap across 31,388 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.1% | 2,850 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,975 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 1,946 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 1,175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,105 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 343 |
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 | 2,242 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,024 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 818 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 766 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 765 |
| 6 | Washers | 652 |
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 | 29.4% | 9,243 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.2% | 8,209 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.6% | 6,155 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.8% | 2,769 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 2,127 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,209 |
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 | 1,375 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 9,420 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 12,353 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 6,177 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,661 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 395 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 23,841 | 16.9% |
| Diesel | 7,547 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,123 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 6,283 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 6,372 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 6,372 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 6,238 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.1% 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.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (6.2% 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 2013 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 31,388 2013 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mazda 3?
Suspension, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2013 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,388 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.