2016 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
63,791 MOT tests on the 2016 Mazda 3 are in this dataset, and 82.5% of them passed. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 13.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 9.3% of all tests — 3.7 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 5,231 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.4% in the 0-30k band and 23.2% in the 150k+ band, a 10.8-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (19.3% vs 17.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 5,936 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.6% | 3,560 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,766 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,706 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 1,467 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 407 |
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 | 5,231 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,254 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,580 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,560 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,280 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 898 |
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 | 27.7% | 17,684 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 15,675 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 5,267 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 4,334 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 2,128 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 640 |
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 | 9,984 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 30,740 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 17,170 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,841 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 897 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 155 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 51,342 | 17.0% |
| Diesel | 12,449 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,499 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 12,663 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 12,904 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 12,882 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 12,843 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 3
On a 2016 3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (5.6% 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 (4.3% 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.
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 2016 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 63,791 2016 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mazda 3?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.6%).
Does the 2016 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,791 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.