Mazda CX-7 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 19 model years and 10,545 tests, the Mazda CX-7 passes its MOT 72.6% of the time. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 24.9% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst CX-7 years
Ranked across CX-7 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
The strongest year on this record is 2011 (74.8% pass rate); the weakest is 2009 (71.0%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.7% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 859 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 16.1-point spread — more than double.
The diesel cars hold up better: 26.7% fail against 29.1% for petrol, a 2.4-point gap across 10,537 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every CX-7 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 934 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 1,338 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,504 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 3,119 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 2,662 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 955 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 1,549 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 1,121 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 991 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.6% | 800 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 535 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 433 |
| 7 | Visibility | 3.2% | 342 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 245 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 859 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 794 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 699 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 443 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 408 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 389 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 298 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 267 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.5% | 3,527 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.7% | 2,917 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.6% | 2,489 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,664 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 984 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.8% | 928 |
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 | 54 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 735 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,201 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,342 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,755 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 455 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,442 | 26.7% |
| Petrol | 3,095 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,813 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 2,589 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 2,144 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 1,696 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 1,303 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a Mazda CX-7
- Lighting & signalling (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.6% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
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-7?
72.6% of the 10,545 Mazda CX-7 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.4% fail rate, across model years 2003–2021.
What does the Mazda CX-7 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.7% of tests, then brakes (10.6%).
Which CX-7 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2011 has the best pass rate at 74.8% and 2009 the weakest at 71.0%, from 2,662 and 1,504 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect CX-7 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.0% for 150k+, a 16.1-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol CX-7 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 26.7% of the time against 29.1% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,545 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.