2017 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,473 MOT tests, the 2017 Mazda 3 recorded an 84.3% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 12.0% of the time, so this is 3.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 4.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 3,834 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 18.2% in the 150k+ band, a 8.2-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.2% fail against 18.1% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 48,473 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 4,043 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 2,127 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,074 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,384 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 963 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 148 |
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 | 3,834 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,577 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,340 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 897 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 765 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 664 |
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 | 29.0% | 14,038 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.3% | 11,787 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 3,237 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 2,201 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,794 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 491 |
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 | 13,171 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 24,377 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 8,826 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,749 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 293 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 55 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 41,423 | 15.2% |
| Diesel | 7,050 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,239 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 9,556 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 9,830 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 9,838 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 10,010 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (4.4% 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 2017 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 48,473 2017 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mazda 3?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by brakes (4.4%).
Does the 2017 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,473 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.