Mazda MX-5: suspension MOT failures
Suspension was recorded as a failure area in 8.1% of Mazda MX-5 MOT tests — 44,914 tests out of 557,938. It shows up most on 2003 and 2006 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,712 | 8.8% |
| 1991 | 4,234 | 9.2% |
| 1992 | 2,903 | 10.1% |
| 1993 | 2,663 | 9.6% |
| 1994 | 2,728 | 9.1% |
| 1995 | 4,649 | 8.4% |
| 1996 | 7,390 | 8.5% |
| 1997 | 11,859 | 8.7% |
| 1998 | 16,720 | 7.8% |
| 1999 | 18,665 | 8.3% |
| 2000 | 18,734 | 8.4% |
| 2001 | 13,246 | 9.0% |
| 2002 | 21,686 | 10.1% |
| 2003 | 28,464 | 11.9% |
| 2004 | 22,118 | 9.6% |
| 2005 | 21,960 | 10.3% |
| 2006 | 41,061 | 14.0% |
| 2007 | 47,708 | 11.6% |
| 2008 | 33,344 | 11.7% |
| 2009 | 25,370 | 10.3% |
| 2010 | 27,917 | 9.3% |
| 2011 | 19,994 | 8.4% |
| 2012 | 17,822 | 6.0% |
| 2013 | 17,529 | 5.1% |
| 2014 | 15,895 | 4.2% |
| 2015 | 16,167 | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 22,110 | 1.2% |
| 2017 | 24,052 | 0.8% |
| 2018 | 22,370 | 0.4% |
| 2019 | 16,881 | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 3,347 | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 2,986 | 0.2% |
| 2022 | 1,406 | 0.1% |
Methodology & source. 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.