2010 Mazda 5 — MOT failures & pass rate
10,601 MOT tests on the 2010 Mazda 5 are in this dataset, and 70.0% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.5%) and lighting & signalling (15.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and catalyst emissions — ball joint alone was recorded 846 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.0% of the time against 30.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.5% | 1,852 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 1,649 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 912 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 869 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.5% | 794 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.2% | 759 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 846 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 789 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 741 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 628 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 556 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 480 |
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 | 42.7% | 4,528 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.4% | 3,115 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.3% | 2,791 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.8% | 2,202 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.6% | 1,553 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 1,268 |
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 | 846 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,539 | 28.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,028 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,643 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 527 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,851 | 30.0% |
| Diesel | 750 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,406 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 2,392 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 2,138 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 1,964 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 1,701 | 31.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 5
On a 2010 5, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.5% 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 (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2010 Mazda 5s pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 10,601 2010 Mazda 5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mazda 5?
Suspension, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.6%).
Does the 2010 5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 30-60k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,601 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.