Mazda CX-5 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mazda CX-5 appears in 344,583 MOT tests spanning model years 2008–2025, and 87.2% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 13.4%, so the CX-5 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and tyres.
Best and worst CX-5 years
Ranked across CX-5 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2022 cars pass 94.5% of the time while 2012 cars manage 78.3%, a 16.2-point spread.
No single area dominates — suspension (4.3%) and brakes (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and track rod end — brake pads alone was recorded 9,641 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 0-30k band and 23.7% in the 150k+ band, a 17.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.6% fail against 14.6% for diesel, a 5.0-point gap across 344,578 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every CX-5 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 9,417 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 32,828 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 41,330 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 41,609 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Suspension |
| 2016 | 40,861 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Suspension |
| 2017 | 40,298 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 55,165 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 44,341 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 18,535 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 11,884 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 7,898 | 94.5% | 5.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 403 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.3% | 14,814 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 12,265 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.5% | 11,945 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 9,879 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 9,513 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.9% | 6,434 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 3,997 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 750 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 9,641 |
| 2 | Wipers | 8,514 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 7,541 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6,741 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 5,943 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 5,467 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 3,859 |
| 8 | Washers | 2,644 |
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 | 22.0% | 75,797 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 73,615 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 35,557 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.3% | 28,418 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 14,380 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 11,850 |
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 | 71,694 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 126,965 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 87,390 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 43,746 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 12,236 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,532 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 216,053 | 14.6% |
| Petrol | 128,525 | 9.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51,603 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 63,568 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 70,228 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 75,647 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 83,537 | 14.2% |
What to check before buying a Mazda CX-5
- Suspension (4.3% 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 (3.6% 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.
- Tyres (3.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda CX-5?
87.2% of the 344,583 Mazda CX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.8% fail rate, across model years 2008–2025.
What does the Mazda CX-5 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 4.3% of tests, then brakes (3.6%).
Which CX-5 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2022 has the best pass rate at 94.5% and 2012 the weakest at 78.3%, from 7,898 and 9,417 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect CX-5 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.7% for 150k+, a 17.6-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel CX-5 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 9.6% of the time against 14.6% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 344,583 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.