Mazda Rx-8 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mazda Rx-8 appears in 20,321 MOT tests spanning model years 2003–2020, and 76.6% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are emissions & environmental, suspension and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst Rx-8 years
Ranked across Rx-8 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2009 cars pass 81.2% of the time while 2005 cars manage 75.0%, a 6.2-point spread.
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (10.3%) and suspension (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,380 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.6% in the 0-30k band and 26.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.3% in 2021 to 22.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rx-8 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 682 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2004 | 3,496 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2005 | 2,782 | 75.0% | 25.1% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2006 | 4,047 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2007 | 4,171 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2008 | 2,640 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2009 | 1,731 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 638 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2011 | 126 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 2,084 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.7% | 1,967 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 1,844 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 1,480 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.8% | 765 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 707 |
| 7 | Visibility | 3.4% | 685 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 372 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 2,380 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,005 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 951 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 849 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 813 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 677 |
| 7 | Coil spring | 639 |
| 8 | Wipers | 614 |
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 | 26.1% | 5,312 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 4,652 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.3% | 4,118 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 2,312 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 1,916 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 1,784 |
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 | 1,397 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 7,312 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 8,563 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,616 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 351 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 75 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,418 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 4,508 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 3,997 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 3,468 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 2,930 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a Mazda Rx-8
- Emissions & environmental (10.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (9.7% 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 (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda Rx-8?
76.6% of the 20,321 Mazda Rx-8 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.4% fail rate, across model years 2003–2020.
What does the Mazda Rx-8 most often fail its MOT on?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 10.3% of tests, then suspension (9.7%).
Which Rx-8 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2009 has the best pass rate at 81.2% and 2005 the weakest at 75.0%, from 1,731 and 2,782 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Rx-8 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.7% for 150k+, a 11.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,321 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.