2002 Mazda E Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Mazda E Series passed 72.7% of its 374 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (13.4%) 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, integral vehicle structure condition and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 84 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.0% in the 60-90k band and 32.4% in the 150k+ band, a 12.4-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 58 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 50 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 43 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 17 |
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 | 84 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 24 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 15 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 15 |
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 | 34.8% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.9% | 108 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.0% | 86 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 59 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 57 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 46 |
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 | 65 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 111 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 213 | 26.8% |
| Diesel | 161 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 67 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 89 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 79 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 E Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 Mazda E Seriess pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 374 2002 Mazda E Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mazda E Series?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.4%).
Does the 2002 E Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 60-90k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 374 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.