2018 Mazda MX-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Mazda MX-5 passed 94.7% of its 22,370 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (9.1% fail rate), the 2018 MX-5 comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (2.4%) and tyres (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 517 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.4% versus 3.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 2.4% | 528 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 488 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 454 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 444 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 97 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 60 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 517 |
| 2 | Wipers | 441 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 360 |
| 4 | Washers | 225 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 171 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 142 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.4% | 3,664 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 3,497 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 1,112 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 618 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.1% | 460 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 208 |
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 | 16,869 | 3.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,019 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 422 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,486 | 3.5% |
| 2022 | 4,443 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 4,504 | 5.5% |
| 2024 | 4,434 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 4,503 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 MX-5
On a 2018 MX-5, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (2.4% 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 (2.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.0% 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
How many 2018 Mazda MX-5s pass their MOT?
94.7% of the 22,370 2018 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mazda MX-5?
Visibility, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2018 MX-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,370 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.