2010 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Mazda 6 passed 75.2% of its 36,956 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.6%) and lighting & signalling (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 2,849 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.4% in the 0-30k band and 27.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.7-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.2% fail against 26.1% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 36,956 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.6% | 5,011 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 4,968 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 3,169 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 2,018 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,340 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 1,042 |
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 | 2,849 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 2,353 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,998 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,797 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,775 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,206 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.1% | 12,596 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.3% | 11,567 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 10,072 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 5,344 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.8% | 3,634 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 2,736 |
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 | 134 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,018 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 7,466 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,619 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 9,074 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 6,635 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,693 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 16,263 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,071 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 8,398 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 7,499 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 6,565 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 5,423 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (13.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 2010 Mazda 6s pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 36,956 2010 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mazda 6?
Brakes, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.4%).
Does the 2010 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,956 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.