2015 Mazda MX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
16,167 MOT tests on the 2015 Mazda MX-5 are in this dataset, and 91.1% of them passed. That is 3.1 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.5%) and lighting & signalling (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 354 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.4% versus 5.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.5% | 560 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 447 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 437 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.5% | 410 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 367 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 354 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 334 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 286 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 272 |
| 5 | Washers | 193 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 163 |
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 | 18.8% | 3,043 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.4% | 2,645 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 1,723 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 545 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.1% | 345 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 312 |
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 | 6,841 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,313 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,647 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 242 | 14.5% |
| 120-150k | 75 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,208 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 3,209 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 3,244 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 3,228 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 3,278 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 MX-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 3.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (3.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2015 Mazda MX-5s pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 16,167 2015 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mazda MX-5?
Brakes, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.8%).
Does the 2015 MX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,167 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.