1995 Mazda MX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1995 Mazda MX-5 passed 75.0% of its 4,649 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 19.8% of the time, so this is 5.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.6%) and brakes (9.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 539 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.4% versus 11.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 24.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 491 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 459 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 414 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 390 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 259 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 206 |
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 | 539 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 266 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 242 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 197 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 190 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 188 |
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 | 24.9% | 1,156 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.5% | 1,139 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 946 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.1% | 609 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 587 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 279 |
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 | 94 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 625 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,360 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,462 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 835 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 271 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 924 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 953 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 899 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 943 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 930 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 MX-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1995 Mazda MX-5s pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 4,649 1995 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Mazda MX-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by brakes (9.9%).
Does the 1995 MX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,649 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.