Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mazda MX-5 appears in 557,938 MOT tests spanning model years 1983–2024, and 81.3% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail at 18.4%, so the MX-5 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
Best and worst MX-5 years
Ranked across MX-5 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
Not every year is equal — 97.0% of 2022 examples pass against 72.8% of 2003 ones.
No single area dominates — suspension (8.1%) and lighting & signalling (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 24,145 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 29.4% in the 150k+ band, a 23.2-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every MX-5 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 198 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 3,712 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 4,234 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 2,903 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 2,663 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 2,728 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 4,649 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 7,390 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 11,859 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 16,720 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 18,665 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 18,734 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 13,246 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 21,686 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 28,464 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 22,118 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 21,960 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 41,061 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 47,708 | 79.0% | 21.1% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 33,344 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 25,370 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 27,917 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 19,994 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 17,822 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 17,529 | 87.5% | 12.4% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 15,895 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 16,167 | 91.1% | 8.8% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 22,110 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Brakes |
| 2017 | 24,052 | 93.9% | 6.1% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 22,370 | 94.7% | 5.3% | Visibility |
| 2019 | 16,881 | 95.4% | 4.6% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 3,347 | 95.8% | 4.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 2,986 | 96.4% | 3.6% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,406 | 97.0% | 3.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 38 | 94.7% | 5.3% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.1% | 44,889 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 38,358 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 38,034 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 22,964 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 19,583 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 14,880 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.6% | 14,456 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 9,925 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 24,145 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19,703 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19,254 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 18,713 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 17,965 |
| 6 | Wipers | 14,487 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 13,241 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 12,168 |
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 | 23.4% | 130,701 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.6% | 120,312 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.8% | 93,908 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 39,103 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 31,034 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 29,962 |
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 | 108,998 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 159,772 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 150,400 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 88,008 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 33,487 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 16,964 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 557,872 | 18.7% |
| Diesel | 62 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115,932 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 115,584 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 112,591 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 108,055 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 105,776 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a Mazda MX-5
- Suspension (8.1% 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 (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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 MX-5?
81.3% of the 557,938 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.7% fail rate, across model years 1983–2024.
What does the Mazda MX-5 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 8.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Which MX-5 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2022 has the best pass rate at 97.0% and 2003 the weakest at 72.8%, from 1,406 and 28,464 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect MX-5 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.4% for 150k+, a 23.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 557,938 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.