2017 Mazda E Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Mazda E Series passed 76.0% of its 810 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (12.3% fail rate), the 2017 E Series comes out 11.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests against 7.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 72 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 30-60k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 129 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 53 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 39 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 55 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 40 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 35 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 33 |
| 6 | Wipers | 30 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.3% | 164 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.6% | 151 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.7% | 127 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 120 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 91 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.5% | 69 |
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 | 76 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 217 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 247 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 108 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 184 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 187 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 191 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 121 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 127 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 E Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 (6.5% 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 2017 Mazda E Seriess pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 810 2017 Mazda E Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mazda E Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 2017 E Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 30-60k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 810 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.