2020 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Mazda 6 passed 93.3% of its 3,381 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (10.9% fail rate), the 2020 6 comes out 4.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.3%) and visibility (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 75 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 6 fails 5.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.6% of the time against 7.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.8% in 2022 to 7.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 112 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 69 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 55 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 75 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 67 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 59 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 54 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 28 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 18.9% | 640 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.3% | 618 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 174 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 123 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 37 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 12 |
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 | 1,837 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,231 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 224 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 56 | 7.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,858 | 6.6% |
| Diesel | 523 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 1,105 | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 1,109 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 1,124 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 6
On a 2020 6, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.0% 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 2020 Mazda 6s pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 3,381 2020 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mazda 6?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.3%).
Does the 2020 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 7.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,381 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.