2000 Mazda E Series — MOT failures & pass rate
676 MOT tests on the 2000 Mazda E Series are in this dataset, and 72.2% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 12.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 150 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 32.8% versus 27.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.9% in 2021 to 24.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 116 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 82 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 76 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 43 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 31 |
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 | 150 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 58 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 42 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 41 |
| 5 | Wipers | 37 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 33 |
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 | 39.2% | 265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.1% | 224 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.4% | 192 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.0% | 162 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 109 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.9% | 87 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 185 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 171 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 183 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 122 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 386 | 28.2% |
| Petrol | 290 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 167 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 134 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 135 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 129 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 111 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 E Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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
How many 2000 Mazda E Seriess pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 676 2000 Mazda E Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Mazda E Series?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.1%).
Does the 2000 E Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.0% in the 60-90k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 676 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.