2001 Mazda B Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Mazda B Series passed 71.6% of its 904 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests against 13.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, joints and rigid brake pipes — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 75 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.7% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.5% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 182 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 121 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 102 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.7% | 97 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 61 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 75 |
| 2 | Joints | 63 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 59 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 57 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 51 |
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 | 39.8% | 360 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.0% | 298 |
| 3 | Suspension | 32.2% | 291 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.8% | 179 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.1% | 173 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 112 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 68 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 126 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 243 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 222 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 243 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 260 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 199 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 169 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 144 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 132 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 B Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 2001 Mazda B Seriess pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 904 2001 Mazda B Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mazda B Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (13.4%).
Does the 2001 B Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 904 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.