1997 Mazda 121 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

47.1%

Latest Pass Rate

3,573

Total Tests (All Years)

60,234 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 1997 Mazda 121 as it ages.

12 yrs37.5%

→ ↓1.7%

13 yrs35.8%

→ ↑0.3%

14 yrs36.1%

→ ↑0.1%

15 yrs36.2%

→ ↑2.8%

16 yrs39.0%

→ ↓0.6%

17 yrs38.4%

→ ↓0.2%

18 yrs38.2%

→ ↑0.1%

19 yrs38.3%

→ ↑0.3%

20 yrs38.6%

→ ↑1.4%

21 yrs40.0%

→ ↑7.1%

22 yrs47.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	37.5%	829
13 yrs	35.8%	707
14 yrs	36.1%	582
15 yrs	36.2%	437
16 yrs	39.0%	349
17 yrs	38.4%	232
18 yrs	38.2%	170
19 yrs	38.3%	115
20 yrs	38.6%	83
21 yrs	40.0%	35
22 yrs	47.1%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mazda 121 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (22 yrs)	47.1%	34
2018 (21 yrs)	40%	35
2017 (20 yrs)	38.6%	83
2016 (19 yrs)	38.3%	115
2015 (18 yrs)	38.2%	170
2014 (17 yrs)	38.4%	232
2013 (16 yrs)	39%	349
2012 (15 yrs)	36.2%	437
2011 (14 yrs)	36.1%	582
2010 (13 yrs)	35.8%	707
2009 (12 yrs)	37.5%	829

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

37.5%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 829Avg Mileage 57,517Top Failure Brakes — 42.5%

2010High Fail Rate

35.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 707Avg Mileage 55,208Top Failure Suspension — 46.1%

2011High Fail Rate

36.1%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 582Avg Mileage 56,228Top Failure Suspension — 47.1%

2012High Fail Rate

36.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 437Avg Mileage 57,622Top Failure Suspension — 49.4%

2013High Fail Rate

39.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 349Avg Mileage 55,471Top Failure Suspension — 156.7%

2014High Fail Rate

38.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 232Avg Mileage 54,926Top Failure Suspension — 172.0%

2015High Fail Rate

38.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 170Avg Mileage 57,121Top Failure Suspension — 154.1%

2016High Fail Rate

38.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 115Avg Mileage 54,820Top Failure Suspension — 167.0%

2017High Fail Rate

38.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 83Avg Mileage 53,356Top Failure Suspension — 125.3%

2018High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 35Avg Mileage 50,149Top Failure Suspension — 165.7%

2019High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 34Avg Mileage 60,234Top Failure Suspension — 111.8%

MOT results for 1997 Mazda 121 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	37.5%	829	57,517	Brakes — 42.5%
2010	13	35.8%	707	55,208	Suspension — 46.1%
2011	14	36.1%	582	56,228	Suspension — 47.1%
2012	15	36.2%	437	57,622	Suspension — 49.4%
2013	16	39.0%	349	55,471	Suspension — 156.7%
2014	17	38.4%	232	54,926	Suspension — 172.0%
2015	18	38.2%	170	57,121	Suspension — 154.1%
2016	19	38.3%	115	54,820	Suspension — 167.0%
2017	20	38.6%	83	53,356	Suspension — 125.3%
2018	21	40.0%	35	50,149	Suspension — 165.7%
2019	22	47.1%	34	60,234	Suspension — 111.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mazda 121, with age trends.

Suspension

112.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

85.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

29.4%

— Consistent

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems

28.2%

↓ Decreases 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	41.0% (12 yrs)	111.8% (22 yrs)	+70.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	42.5% (12 yrs)	108.8% (22 yrs)	+66.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 3,573 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.