1993 Mazda MX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,663 MOT tests, the 1993 Mazda MX-5 recorded a 75.6% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (19.3% fail rate), the 1993 MX-5 comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.4%) and brakes (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 233 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.1% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 23.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 330 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 303 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 255 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 190 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 124 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 117 |
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 | 233 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 178 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 161 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 123 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 108 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 103 |
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 | 28.6% | 762 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.8% | 687 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 519 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.0% | 345 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 334 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.7% | 178 |
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 | 30 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 183 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 642 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 835 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 554 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 417 | 32.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 466 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 421 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 441 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 661 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 674 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 1993 MX-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
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 1993 Mazda MX-5s pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 2,663 1993 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Mazda MX-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 1993 MX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,663 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.