2008 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Mazda 6 passed 72.2% of its 27,379 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.4% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 3,019 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.6% in the 0-30k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 11.0-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (29.2% vs 27.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 5,588 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 3,739 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 2,682 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,594 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 1,352 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 1,269 |
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 | 3,019 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,425 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,261 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,648 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,486 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,476 |
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 | 36.8% | 10,081 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.0% | 9,308 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 7,673 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 5,856 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 3,690 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 3,083 |
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 | 86 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,038 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,348 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,852 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 7,485 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 5,562 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,112 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 8,264 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,774 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 6,632 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 5,484 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 4,287 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 3,202 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 6
On a 2008 6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
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 6s pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 27,379 2008 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mazda 6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 2008 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,379 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.