2017 Mazda CX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,298 MOT tests, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 recorded an 89.2% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 11.9% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.6%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,208 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.3% versus 7.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.9% of the time against 11.1% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.6% | 1,459 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 1,359 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,258 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,061 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 850 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 359 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,208 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,183 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 715 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 661 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 402 |
| 6 | Washers | 292 |
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 | 23.3% | 9,394 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.5% | 9,054 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.9% | 3,185 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 2,410 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,830 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 546 |
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 | 6,540 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 19,965 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 10,412 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,756 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 521 | 14.2% |
| 150k+ | 104 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,190 | 11.1% |
| Petrol | 11,108 | 9.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,835 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 7,996 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 8,026 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 8,093 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 8,348 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 CX-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (3.4% 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 (3.1% 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.
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 2017 Mazda CX-5s pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 40,298 2017 Mazda CX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mazda CX-5?
Brakes, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2017 CX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,298 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.