2007 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,110 MOT tests, the 2007 Mazda 6 recorded a 70.3% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.4%) and suspension (16.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 1,612 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.7% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.5% of the time against 30.9% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 3,507 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.2% | 3,247 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 2,445 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 1,151 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 1,095 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 1,085 |
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 | 1,612 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,450 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,371 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,241 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,143 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,142 |
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 | 41.6% | 8,373 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 6,454 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 5,603 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 3,666 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 3,416 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 2,536 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 101 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,539 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,060 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 6,843 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 4,421 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,139 | 33.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,521 | 29.5% |
| Diesel | 2,589 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,258 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 4,822 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 3,845 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,895 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 2,290 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.2% 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.
- Brakes (12.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2007 Mazda 6s pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 20,110 2007 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mazda 6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by suspension (16.2%).
Does the 2007 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,110 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.