1996 Mazda 121 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

43.8%

Latest Pass Rate

3,879

Total Tests (All Years)

51,194 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 Mazda 121 as it ages.

13 yrs36.6%

→ ↓2.5%

14 yrs34.1%

→ ↓3.1%

15 yrs31.0%

→ ↑4.4%

16 yrs35.4%

→ ↑1.2%

17 yrs36.6%

→ ↓4.2%

18 yrs32.4%

→ ↑5.4%

19 yrs37.8%

→ ↑0.8%

20 yrs38.6%

→ ↑5.2%

21 yrs43.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	36.6%	1,015
14 yrs	34.1%	869
15 yrs	31.0%	662
16 yrs	35.4%	478
17 yrs	36.6%	336
18 yrs	32.4%	219
19 yrs	37.8%	135
20 yrs	38.6%	101
21 yrs	43.8%	64

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mazda 121 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (21 yrs)	43.8%	64
2016 (20 yrs)	38.6%	101
2015 (19 yrs)	37.8%	135
2014 (18 yrs)	32.4%	219
2013 (17 yrs)	36.6%	336
2012 (16 yrs)	35.4%	478
2011 (15 yrs)	31%	662
2010 (14 yrs)	34.1%	869
2009 (13 yrs)	36.6%	1,015

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

36.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,015Avg Mileage 55,960Top Failure Suspension — 44.7%

2010High Fail Rate

34.1%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 869Avg Mileage 55,721Top Failure Suspension — 48.3%

2011High Fail Rate

31.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 662Avg Mileage 55,496Top Failure Suspension — 53.9%

2012High Fail Rate

35.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 478Avg Mileage 56,684Top Failure Suspension — 51.3%

2013High Fail Rate

36.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 336Avg Mileage 55,630Top Failure Suspension — 156.3%

2014High Fail Rate

32.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 219Avg Mileage 55,669Top Failure Suspension — 185.8%

2015High Fail Rate

37.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 135Avg Mileage 49,446Top Failure Suspension — 158.5%

2016High Fail Rate

38.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 101Avg Mileage 52,929Top Failure Suspension — 120.8%

2017High Fail Rate

43.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 64Avg Mileage 51,194Top Failure Suspension — 126.6%

MOT results for 1996 Mazda 121 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	36.6%	1,015	55,960	Suspension — 44.7%
2010	14	34.1%	869	55,721	Suspension — 48.3%
2011	15	31.0%	662	55,496	Suspension — 53.9%
2012	16	35.4%	478	56,684	Suspension — 51.3%
2013	17	36.6%	336	55,630	Suspension — 156.3%
2014	18	32.4%	219	55,669	Suspension — 185.8%
2015	19	37.8%	135	49,446	Suspension — 158.5%
2016	20	38.6%	101	52,929	Suspension — 120.8%
2017	21	43.8%	64	51,194	Suspension — 126.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mazda 121, with age trends.

Suspension

105.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

84.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.7%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

26.1%

↑ Increases with age

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems

25.9%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	44.7% (13 yrs)	126.6% (21 yrs)	+81.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	43.2% (13 yrs)	106.3% (21 yrs)	+63.1%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	16.7% (13 yrs)	32.8% (21 yrs)	+16.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	26.7% (13 yrs)	35.9% (21 yrs)	+9.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

← Back to Mazda 121 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mazda 121 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda 121 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 3,879 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.