2020 Mazda CX-30 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Mazda CX-30 passed 94.2% of its 19,890 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 7.9% of the time, so this is 2.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.8%) and visibility (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 428 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.2% in the 0-30k band and 11.9% in the 90-120k band, a 7.7-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.4% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.8% | 563 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.5% | 505 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 269 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 192 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 122 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 119 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 428 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 221 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 215 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 208 |
| 5 | Washers | 172 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 112 |
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 | 19.1% | 3,790 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.6% | 3,501 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 1,255 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 981 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 591 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 58 |
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 | 12,791 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 6,569 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 477 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,740 | 5.8% |
| Hybrid | 150 | 5.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 251 | 2.4% |
| 2023 | 6,544 | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 6,461 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 6,633 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 CX-30
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.8% 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.
- Visibility (2.5% 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.
- Brakes (1.4% 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 2020 Mazda CX-30s pass their MOT?
94.2% of the 19,890 2020 Mazda CX-30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mazda CX-30?
Tyres, recorded in 2.8% of tests, followed by visibility (2.5%).
Does the 2020 CX-30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,890 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.