2001 Mazda Bongo/Friendee — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Mazda Bongo/Friendee passed 83.0% of its 264 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 5.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 30.9% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.7% in 2021 to 11.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 52 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 15 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 12 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 10 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 10 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.0% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 12 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 9 |
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 | 16.7% | 44 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 41 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.5% | 41 |
| 4 | Tyres | 11.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 78 | 10.3% |
| 90-120k | 62 | 9.7% |
| 120-150k | 38 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 68 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 41 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 73 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 72 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Bongo/Friendee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (4.5% 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 Bongo/Friendees pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 264 2001 Mazda Bongo/Friendee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mazda Bongo/Friendee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.7%).
Does the 2001 Bongo/Friendee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 60-90k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 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.