Mazda 3: suspension MOT failures
Suspension was recorded as a failure area in 11.5% of Mazda 3 MOT tests — 76,869 tests out of 671,343. It shows up most on 2005 and 2006 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7,031 | 18.1% |
| 2005 | 22,466 | 19.3% |
| 2006 | 30,751 | 18.3% |
| 2007 | 39,630 | 17.8% |
| 2008 | 46,133 | 18.1% |
| 2009 | 52,784 | 15.5% |
| 2010 | 55,843 | 13.5% |
| 2011 | 35,896 | 13.9% |
| 2012 | 31,169 | 10.2% |
| 2013 | 31,388 | 9.1% |
| 2014 | 51,647 | 10.8% |
| 2015 | 71,612 | 9.4% |
| 2016 | 63,791 | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 48,473 | 8.3% |
| 2018 | 39,185 | 2.5% |
| 2019 | 18,863 | 0.5% |
| 2020 | 13,444 | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 8,377 | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 2,633 | 0.3% |
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.