2014 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,751 MOT tests, the 2014 Mazda Bongo recorded a 70.9% pass rate. That is 10.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 18.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.5% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rear fog lamp and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 245 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.5% versus 10.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (31.0% vs 28.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 509 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 360 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 229 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 224 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 200 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 164 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 245 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 219 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 195 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 168 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 166 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 162 |
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 | 28.5% | 783 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 670 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.7% | 543 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 515 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 365 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 362 |
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 | 48 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 478 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 826 | 29.9% |
| 120-150k | 544 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 841 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,086 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 662 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 638 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 647 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 620 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 433 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 413 | 31.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Bongo
On a 2014 Bongo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.1% 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 (8.3% 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 2014 Mazda Bongos pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 2,751 2014 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mazda Bongo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.1%).
Does the 2014 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 30-60k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,751 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.