2001 Mazda Premacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 503 MOT tests, the 2001 Mazda Premacy recorded a 65.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2001 Premacy comes out 7.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 22.1% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 87 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 41.9% versus 24.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 52.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 34.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.1% | 111 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 86 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 61 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.2% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 37 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 87 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 51 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 40 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 6 | Wipers | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 52.1% | 262 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.2% | 152 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 130 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 99 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.5% | 93 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.7% | 79 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 82 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 34.9% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 34.8% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 41.7% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 41.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 169 | 34.3% |
| 2022 | 136 | 33.1% |
| 2023 | 88 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 65 | 38.5% |
| 2025 | 45 | 37.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Premacy
On a 2001 Premacy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (22.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.1% 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 2001 Mazda Premacys pass their MOT?
65.2% of the 503 2001 Mazda Premacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mazda Premacy?
Suspension, recorded in 22.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.1%).
Does the 2001 Premacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 30-60k band to 41.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 503 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.