1989 Mazda 323 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

51.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,880

Total Tests (All Years)

73,025 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 1989 Mazda 323 as it ages.

20 yrs43.2%

→ ↑1.0%

21 yrs44.2%

→ ↑1.3%

22 yrs45.5%

→ ↑2.5%

23 yrs48.0%

→ ↓7.3%

24 yrs40.7%

→ ↑6.1%

25 yrs46.8%

→ ↑2.0%

26 yrs48.8%

→ ↑20.4%

27 yrs69.2%

→ ↓18.1%

28 yrs51.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	43.2%	555
21 yrs	44.2%	394
22 yrs	45.5%	279
23 yrs	48.0%	198
24 yrs	40.7%	145
25 yrs	46.8%	111
26 yrs	48.8%	86
27 yrs	69.2%	65
28 yrs	51.1%	47

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Mazda 323 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (28 yrs)	51.1%	47
2016 (27 yrs)	69.2%	65
2015 (26 yrs)	48.8%	86
2014 (25 yrs)	46.8%	111
2013 (24 yrs)	40.7%	145
2012 (23 yrs)	48%	198
2011 (22 yrs)	45.5%	279
2010 (21 yrs)	44.2%	394
2009 (20 yrs)	43.2%	555

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 555Avg Mileage 80,335Top Failure Suspension — 39.5%

2010High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 394Avg Mileage 78,902Top Failure Suspension — 37.3%

2011High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 279Avg Mileage 80,647Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 198Avg Mileage 76,300Top Failure Suspension — 36.4%

2013High Fail Rate

40.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 145Avg Mileage 73,436Top Failure Suspension — 97.2%

2014High Fail Rate

46.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 111Avg Mileage 72,814Top Failure Suspension — 126.1%

2015High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 86Avg Mileage 70,360Top Failure Suspension — 90.7%

2016

69.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 65Avg Mileage 73,822Top Failure Suspension — 50.8%

2017High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 47Avg Mileage 73,025Top Failure Suspension — 78.7%

MOT results for 1989 Mazda 323 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	43.2%	555	80,335	Suspension — 39.5%
2010	21	44.2%	394	78,902	Suspension — 37.3%
2011	22	45.5%	279	80,647	Suspension — 33.3%
2012	23	48.0%	198	76,300	Suspension — 36.4%
2013	24	40.7%	145	73,436	Suspension — 97.2%
2014	25	46.8%	111	72,814	Suspension — 126.1%
2015	26	48.8%	86	70,360	Suspension — 90.7%
2016	27	69.2%	65	73,822	Suspension — 50.8%
2017	28	51.1%	47	73,025	Suspension — 78.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Mazda 323, with age trends.

Suspension

65.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

49.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

21.8%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

21.3%

— Consistent

Tyres

19.1%

↓ 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
Brakes	30.8% (20 yrs)	72.3% (28 yrs)	+41.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	39.5% (20 yrs)	78.7% (28 yrs)	+39.2%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	22.5% (20 yrs)	34.0% (28 yrs)	+11.5%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	13.5% (20 yrs)	17.0% (28 yrs)	+3.5%	🔴 ↑

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 1,880 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.