2019 Mazda CX-3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Mazda CX-3 passed 93.9% of its 32,664 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), the 2019 CX-3 comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and visibility (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 806 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 CX-3 fails 4.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 6.1% fail against 8.5% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 32,664 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 1,037 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 788 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 713 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 620 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 99 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 54 |
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 | 806 |
| 2 | Wipers | 773 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 495 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 299 |
| 5 | Washers | 205 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 194 |
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 | 19.0% | 6,198 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.9% | 6,191 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.8% | 1,566 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,062 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 351 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 303 |
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 | 20,216 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 11,161 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,174 | 9.8% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 5.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 31,755 | 6.1% |
| Diesel | 909 | 8.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 382 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 8,063 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 8,040 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 8,020 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 8,159 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2019 CX-3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.2% 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.
- Visibility (2.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 Mazda CX-3s pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 32,664 2019 Mazda CX-3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mazda CX-3?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2019 CX-3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 5.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,664 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.