2017 Mazda MX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Mazda MX-5 passed 93.9% of its 24,052 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.8 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in brakes, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (2.7%) and visibility (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 492 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.7% versus 4.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 18.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 2.7% | 643 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 559 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.0% | 481 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 414 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 194 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 68 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 492 |
| 2 | Wipers | 469 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 396 |
| 4 | Washers | 215 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 188 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 182 |
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 | 18.0% | 4,325 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.1% | 4,122 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 1,624 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 741 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.7% | 415 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 273 |
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 | 15,647 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 7,264 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 928 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 155 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,757 | 4.3% |
| 2022 | 4,825 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 4,832 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 4,764 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 4,874 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 MX-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 2.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (2.7% 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.
- Visibility (2.3% 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.
- Tyres (2.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 MX-5s pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 24,052 2017 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mazda MX-5?
Brakes, recorded in 2.7% of tests, followed by visibility (2.3%).
Does the 2017 MX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,052 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.