Mazda 3 Tamura MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,907 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 12.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mazda 3 Tamura MOT Reliability Overview
The Mazda 3 Tamura is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,907 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% and a failure rate of 12.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mazda 3 Tamura earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Mazda 3 Tamura presents for MOT with approximately 26,303 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2012 models achieve the highest pass rate at 88.5%, while 2007 models have the lowest at 76.8%. This 11.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mazda 3 Tamura is Tyres, affecting 10.0% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Driver's View of the Road at 5.8%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment rounds out the top three at 4.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.3% | 196 |
| 2 | Driver's View Of The Road | 5.8% | 111 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 4.2% | 81 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 68 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 30 |
| 6 | Road Wheels | 0.4% | 8 |
| 7 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.3% | 6 |
| 8 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 6 |
| 9 | Steering | 0.3% | 5 |
| 10 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.2% | 4 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.1% | 2 |
| 12 | Items Not Tested | 0.1% | 1 |
| 13 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 26,303 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 3.91 | 10.3% | 196 |
| Visibility | 2.21 | 5.8% | 111 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.61 | 4.2% | 81 |
| Brakes | 1.36 | 3.6% | 68 |
| Suspension | 0.60 | 1.6% | 30 |
| Wheels | 0.16 | 0.4% | 8 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.12 | 0.3% | 6 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.12 | 0.3% | 6 |
| Steering | 0.10 | 0.3% | 5 |
| Body & Structure | 0.08 | 0.2% | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 0.04 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.02 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.02 | 0.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mazda 3 Tamura has 26,303 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mazda 3 Tamura has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.68% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mazda 3 Tamura MOT Data
The Mazda 3 Tamura is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,907 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% and a failure rate of 12.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mazda 3 Tamura owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and driver's view of the road for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 3 Tamura is likely to perform.
Tyres — 10.0% of failures
Tyres issues account for 10.0% of MOT failures on the Mazda 3 Tamura. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Driver's View of the Road — 5.8% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 5.8% of MOT failures on the Mazda 3 Tamura. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 4.2% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 4.2% of MOT failures on the Mazda 3 Tamura. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda 3 Tamura?
Based on 1,907 MOT tests in our database, the Mazda 3 Tamura has an overall pass rate of 87.7% (12.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mazda 3 Tamura?
The top 3 reasons a Mazda 3 Tamura fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (10.0%), 2. Driver's View of the Road (5.8%), 3. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (4.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mazda 3 Tamura reliable?
With a 12.3% MOT failure rate, the 3 Tamura is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mazda 3 Tamura?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (10.0%); Driver's View of the Road (5.8%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (4.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.