2015 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,129 MOT tests, the 2015 Mazda 6 recorded an 83.2% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 17.0%, so the 2015 6 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and brakes (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 1,551 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.9% in the 0-30k band and 21.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.8-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (17.3% vs 15.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 3,068 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 1,939 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,787 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 1,460 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,147 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 877 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,551 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,331 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 999 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 870 |
| 5 | Wipers | 853 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 671 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.4% | 10,187 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.1% | 10,074 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.3% | 6,151 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 3,263 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,472 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 1,006 |
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 | 1,275 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 9,568 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 14,898 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,777 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,570 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,040 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,719 | 17.3% |
| Petrol | 9,410 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,139 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 8,154 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 8,127 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 7,999 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 7,710 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 6
On a 2015 6, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
- Brakes (4.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Mazda 6s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 40,129 2015 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mazda 6?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by brakes (4.8%).
Does the 2015 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,129 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.