2006 Mazda 5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Mazda 5 passed 65.7% of its 6,685 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (22.2%) and lighting & signalling (19.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — headlamp alone was recorded 631 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 36.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 33.4% of the time against 34.5% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 48.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.2% | 1,484 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 1,287 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 773 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 691 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.3% | 623 |
| 6 | Brakes | 8.1% | 544 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 631 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 600 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 600 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 533 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 511 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 481 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 48.0% | 3,210 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.2% | 2,151 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.6% | 1,912 |
| 4 | Brakes | 26.9% | 1,797 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.3% | 1,092 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 1,080 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 251 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,155 | 30.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,724 | 34.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,843 | 37.2% |
| 150k+ | 688 | 36.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,894 | 34.5% |
| Diesel | 791 | 33.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,271 | 34.0% |
| 2022 | 1,714 | 34.7% |
| 2023 | 1,221 | 33.7% |
| 2024 | 886 | 34.8% |
| 2025 | 593 | 35.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 22.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (22.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2006 Mazda 5s pass their MOT?
65.7% of the 6,685 2006 Mazda 5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mazda 5?
Suspension, recorded in 22.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (19.3%).
Does the 2006 5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 30-60k band to 36.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,685 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.