Mazda Tribute MOT pass rate & common failures
1,087 MOT tests on the Mazda Tribute (2001–2016) give it a 68.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.5% of the time, so this is 4.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 16.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, flexible brake hoses and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 271 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 42.9% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.3% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tribute model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 117 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 247 | 67.6% | 32.4% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 338 | 66.6% | 33.4% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 343 | 67.6% | 32.4% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.6% | 224 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 177 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 142 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.1% | 110 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.3% | 68 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 61 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.3% | 47 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.0% | 44 |
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 | 271 |
| 2 | Flexible brake hoses | 107 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 70 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 70 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 57 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 7 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 53 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
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 | 38.3% | 416 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.0% | 304 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.3% | 286 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.9% | 260 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.7% | 225 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 217 |
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 | 113 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 330 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 365 | 35.1% |
| 120-150k | 177 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 98 | 42.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 405 | 36.3% |
| 2022 | 256 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 198 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 134 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 94 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a Mazda Tribute
- Suspension (20.6% 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 (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Tribute?
68.0% of the 1,087 Mazda Tribute MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 32.0% fail rate, across model years 2001–2016.
What does the Mazda Tribute most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 20.6% of tests, then lighting & signalling (16.3%).
How much does mileage affect Tribute MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.2% for cars in the 30-60k band and 42.9% for 150k+, a 28.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,087 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.