Mazda 3: brakes MOT failures
Of the 671,343 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset, 5.8% recorded at least one brakes failure. It shows up most on 2004 and 2009 cars.
Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair cost: £100–£350 per axle (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Brakes failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7,031 | 7.5% |
| 2005 | 22,466 | 7.1% |
| 2006 | 30,751 | 7.4% |
| 2007 | 39,630 | 7.1% |
| 2008 | 46,133 | 7.2% |
| 2009 | 52,784 | 8.0% |
| 2010 | 55,843 | 7.2% |
| 2011 | 35,896 | 6.1% |
| 2012 | 31,169 | 4.8% |
| 2013 | 31,388 | 3.7% |
| 2014 | 51,647 | 6.1% |
| 2015 | 71,612 | 6.4% |
| 2016 | 63,791 | 5.6% |
| 2017 | 48,473 | 4.4% |
| 2018 | 39,185 | 3.5% |
| 2019 | 18,863 | 1.5% |
| 2020 | 13,444 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 8,377 | 1.4% |
| 2022 | 2,633 | 0.9% |
Methodology & source. 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.