2014 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 51,647 MOT tests, the 2014 Mazda 3 recorded an 80.8% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.8% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and rigid brake pipes — coil spring alone was recorded 3,655 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.0% versus 12.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (20.9% vs 18.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.8% | 5,587 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 3,130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,377 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 1,311 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,296 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 380 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 3,655 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,872 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,253 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,132 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,033 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 989 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.7% | 14,815 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 12,698 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 7,132 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 3,897 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,847 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 781 |
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 | 3,374 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 18,036 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 18,770 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 8,634 | 22.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,280 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 547 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 40,461 | 18.7% |
| Diesel | 11,186 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,200 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 10,344 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 10,447 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 10,411 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 10,245 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 3
On a 2014 3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.8% 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 (6.1% 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.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
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 2014 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 51,647 2014 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mazda 3?
Suspension, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2014 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,647 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.