1988 Mazda 323 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

53.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,530

Total Tests (All Years)

86,507 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 1988 Mazda 323 as it ages.

21 yrs50.5%

→ ↑2.5%

22 yrs53.0%

→ ↓1.8%

23 yrs51.2%

→ ↑3.2%

24 yrs54.4%

→ ↑2.7%

25 yrs57.1%

→ ↑3.3%

26 yrs60.4%

→ ↑7.9%

27 yrs68.3%

→ ↓13.1%

28 yrs55.2%

→ ↑15.0%

29 yrs70.2%

→ ↓1.4%

31 yrs68.8%

→ ↓0.0%

33 yrs68.8%

→ ↓15.5%

36 yrs53.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	50.5%	372
22 yrs	53.0%	287
23 yrs	51.2%	209
24 yrs	54.4%	149
25 yrs	57.1%	112
26 yrs	60.4%	101
27 yrs	68.3%	82
28 yrs	55.2%	67
29 yrs	70.2%	57
31 yrs	68.8%	32
33 yrs	68.8%	32
36 yrs	53.3%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Mazda 323 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	53.3%	30
2021 (33 yrs)	68.8%	32
2019 (31 yrs)	68.8%	32
2017 (29 yrs)	70.2%	57
2016 (28 yrs)	55.2%	67
2015 (27 yrs)	68.3%	82
2014 (26 yrs)	60.4%	101
2013 (25 yrs)	57.1%	112
2012 (24 yrs)	54.4%	149
2011 (23 yrs)	51.2%	209
2010 (22 yrs)	53%	287
2009 (21 yrs)	50.5%	372

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 372Avg Mileage 73,923Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2010High Fail Rate

53.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 287Avg Mileage 72,957Top Failure Suspension — 33.4%

2011High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 209Avg Mileage 73,651Top Failure Suspension — 32.1%

2012High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 149Avg Mileage 74,500Top Failure Suspension — 32.2%

2013High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 112Avg Mileage 72,642Top Failure Suspension — 92.9%

2014High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 101Avg Mileage 75,570Top Failure Suspension — 60.4%

2015

68.3%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 82Avg Mileage 75,952Top Failure Suspension — 65.9%

2016High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 67Avg Mileage 74,755Top Failure Suspension — 95.5%

2017

70.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 57Avg Mileage 77,227Top Failure Suspension — 73.7%

2019

68.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 32Avg Mileage 83,393Top Failure Suspension — 71.9%

2021

68.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 32Avg Mileage 79,042Top Failure Suspension — 65.6%

2024High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 30Avg Mileage 86,507Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 66.7%

MOT results for 1988 Mazda 323 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	50.5%	372	73,923	Suspension — 33.3%
2010	22	53.0%	287	72,957	Suspension — 33.4%
2011	23	51.2%	209	73,651	Suspension — 32.1%
2012	24	54.4%	149	74,500	Suspension — 32.2%
2013	25	57.1%	112	72,642	Suspension — 92.9%
2014	26	60.4%	101	75,570	Suspension — 60.4%
2015	27	68.3%	82	75,952	Suspension — 65.9%
2016	28	55.2%	67	74,755	Suspension — 95.5%
2017	29	70.2%	57	77,227	Suspension — 73.7%
2019	31	68.8%	32	83,393	Suspension — 71.9%
2021	33	68.8%	32	79,042	Suspension — 65.6%
2024	36	53.3%	30	86,507	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 66.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Mazda 323, with age trends.

Suspension

59.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

46.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

34.7%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

28.8%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

18.5%

↑ 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	33.3% (21 yrs)	60.0% (36 yrs)	+26.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	26.6% (21 yrs)	10.0% (36 yrs)	-16.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mazda 323 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda 323 cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,530 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.