2015 Mazda CX-3 — MOT failures & pass rate
13,736 MOT tests on the 2015 Mazda CX-3 are in this dataset, and 85.4% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (16.5% fail rate), the 2015 CX-3 comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, seat belts & restraints and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.0%) and seat belts & restraints (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 503 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 120-150k band, a 8.6-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.9% fail against 16.6% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 13,736 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.0% | 690 |
| 2 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.9% | 530 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 517 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 445 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 403 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 311 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 503 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 296 |
| 3 | Wipers | 283 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 199 |
| 5 | Washers | 171 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 157 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.6% | 3,242 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 2,932 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 799 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.7% | 782 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 486 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 416 |
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 | 1,795 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,858 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,974 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 969 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,185 | 13.9% |
| Diesel | 3,551 | 16.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,683 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 2,707 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 2,729 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 2,774 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 2,843 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 CX-3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.0% 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.
- Seat belts & restraints (3.9% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
- Tyres (3.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Mazda CX-3s pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 13,736 2015 Mazda CX-3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mazda CX-3?
Suspension, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by seat belts & restraints (3.9%).
Does the 2015 CX-3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,736 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.