Mazda Bt-50 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 23 model years and 6,017 tests, the Mazda Bt-50 passes its MOT 74.5% of the time. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.3% of all tests — 8.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and rear fog lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 561 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Bt-50 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 510 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 1,530 | 74.3% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 1,717 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 2,109 | 76.1% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 122 | 77.0% | 22.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 1,163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 671 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 557 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.0% | 544 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 359 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 313 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.9% | 175 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.8% | 171 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 561 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 551 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 349 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 329 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 290 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 275 |
| 7 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 262 |
| 8 | Wipers | 256 |
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 | 36.1% | 2,175 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.0% | 1,747 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 1,298 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 1,153 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.4% | 1,108 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.0% | 842 |
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 | 71 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 599 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,230 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,655 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,359 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,101 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,515 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 1,346 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 1,200 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 1,023 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 933 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a Mazda Bt-50
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.3% 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+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda Bt-50?
74.5% of the 6,017 Mazda Bt-50 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.5% fail rate, across model years 1997–2019.
What does the Mazda Bt-50 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, then brakes (11.2%).
How much does mileage affect Bt-50 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.1% for 150k+, a 18.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,017 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.