2008 Mazda 5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,968 MOT tests, the 2008 Mazda 5 recorded a 68.2% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2008 5 comes out 3.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.8%) and lighting & signalling (17.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 1,247 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.8% in the 30-60k band and 33.0% in the 150k+ band, a 10.2-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.7% of the time against 32.4% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.8% | 3,153 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 2,757 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 1,480 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 1,457 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.6% | 1,375 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.3% | 1,168 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,247 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,228 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,215 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 1,063 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 940 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 911 |
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 | 45.9% | 7,326 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.5% | 5,032 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.4% | 4,210 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.2% | 4,026 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.9% | 2,864 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 2,627 |
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 | 659 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,786 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,467 | 33.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,671 | 33.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,361 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,650 | 31.7% |
| Diesel | 3,318 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,520 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 3,904 | 32.7% |
| 2023 | 3,190 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 2,515 | 32.5% |
| 2025 | 1,839 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.8% 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 (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.3% 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 2008 Mazda 5s pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 15,968 2008 Mazda 5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mazda 5?
Suspension, recorded in 19.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.3%).
Does the 2008 5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 30-60k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,968 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.