2018 Mazda CX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 passed 91.0% of its 55,165 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2018 CX-5 comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and brakes (2.9%) 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 headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 1,520 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.3% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (9.8% vs 8.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 2,027 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 1,589 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,566 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 1,202 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 740 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 297 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,520 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,365 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,277 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 759 |
| 5 | Washers | 352 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 350 |
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 | 21.5% | 11,840 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.3% | 10,650 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 4,232 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 2,216 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 2,180 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 624 |
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 | 18,197 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 27,220 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 8,138 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,355 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 207 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,295 | 9.8% |
| Petrol | 25,870 | 8.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,750 | 5.8% |
| 2022 | 10,991 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 11,125 | 9.5% |
| 2024 | 11,058 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 11,241 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 CX-5
On a 2018 CX-5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.7% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% 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 2018 Mazda CX-5s pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 55,165 2018 Mazda CX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2018 CX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,165 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.