Mazda E Series MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 34 model years and 5,747 tests, the Mazda E Series passes its MOT 72.4% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 21.5% of the time, so this is 6.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.7%) and suspension (12.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 720 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.5% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.1% fail against 29.3% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 5,747 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every E Series model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 44 | 61.4% | 38.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 40 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Tyres |
| 1996 | 74 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 92 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 107 | 66.4% | 33.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 213 | 65.7% | 34.3% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 676 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 741 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 374 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 129 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 203 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 80 | 73.8% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 59 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 40 | 62.5% | 37.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 58 | 63.8% | 36.2% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 76 | 63.2% | 36.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 76 | 67.1% | 32.9% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 128 | 65.6% | 34.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 101 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 222 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 301 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 786 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 37 | 62.2% | 37.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 810 | 76.0% | 23.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 177 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 903 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 738 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 527 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 440 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 340 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 334 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.3% | 189 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.3% | 187 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 720 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 351 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 301 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 294 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 287 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 284 |
| 7 | Catalyst emissions | 272 |
| 8 | Wipers | 258 |
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 | 30.1% | 1,732 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.6% | 1,588 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.0% | 1,150 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 944 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 879 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 817 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 323 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,263 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,516 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,294 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,327 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,363 | 27.1% |
| Diesel | 1,384 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,344 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 1,260 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 1,127 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 1,067 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 949 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a Mazda E Series
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (9.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda E Series?
72.4% of the 5,747 Mazda E Series MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.6% fail rate, across model years 1986–2019.
What does the Mazda E Series most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, then suspension (12.8%).
How much does mileage affect E Series MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.0% for cars in the 30-60k band and 32.5% for 150k+, a 10.5-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel E Series more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 27.1% of the time against 29.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,747 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.