2002 Mazda Bongo/Friendee — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Mazda Bongo/Friendee passed 88.5% of its 312 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), the 2002 Bongo/Friendee comes out 15.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 7.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 17.6% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 33 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.2% | 10 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 10 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 7 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 15 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 13 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 9 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 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 | Brakes | 17.6% | 55 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 37 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 33 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.3% | 32 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.3% | 29 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 7 |
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 | 58 | 5.2% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 9.0% |
| 90-120k | 92 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 17.4% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 47 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 48 | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 84 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 95 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Bongo/Friendee
On a 2002 Bongo/Friendee, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2002 Mazda Bongo/Friendees pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 312 2002 Mazda Bongo/Friendee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mazda Bongo/Friendee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by suspension (3.2%).
Does the 2002 Bongo/Friendee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 30-60k band to 17.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 312 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.