1998 Mazda 323 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

62.5%

Latest Pass Rate

40,506

Total Tests (All Years)

89,611 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 1998 Mazda 323 as it ages.

11 yrs46.0%

→ ↓2.4%

12 yrs43.6%

→ ↓3.2%

13 yrs40.4%

→ ↓0.5%

14 yrs39.9%

→ ↓1.1%

15 yrs38.8%

→ ↑2.0%

16 yrs40.8%

→ ↓1.2%

17 yrs39.6%

→ ↑1.1%

18 yrs40.7%

→ ↑5.8%

19 yrs46.5%

→ ↓1.5%

20 yrs45.0%

→ ↑5.3%

21 yrs50.3%

→ ↑1.8%

22 yrs52.1%

→ ↑3.9%

23 yrs56.0%

→ ↓0.7%

24 yrs55.3%

→ ↑0.9%

25 yrs56.2%

→ ↑6.3%

26 yrs62.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	46.0%	8,723
12 yrs	43.6%	7,688
13 yrs	40.4%	6,446
14 yrs	39.9%	4,971
15 yrs	38.8%	3,744
16 yrs	40.8%	2,702
17 yrs	39.6%	1,949
18 yrs	40.7%	1,349
19 yrs	46.5%	925
20 yrs	45.0%	451
21 yrs	50.3%	328
22 yrs	52.1%	292
23 yrs	56.0%	273
24 yrs	55.3%	179
25 yrs	56.2%	185
26 yrs	62.5%	301

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mazda 323 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	62.5%	301
2023 (25 yrs)	56.2%	185
2022 (24 yrs)	55.3%	179
2021 (23 yrs)	56%	273
2020 (22 yrs)	52.1%	292
2019 (21 yrs)	50.3%	328
2018 (20 yrs)	45%	451
2017 (19 yrs)	46.5%	925
2016 (18 yrs)	40.7%	1,349
2015 (17 yrs)	39.6%	1,949
2014 (16 yrs)	40.8%	2,702
2013 (15 yrs)	38.8%	3,744
2012 (14 yrs)	39.9%	4,971
2011 (13 yrs)	40.4%	6,446
2010 (12 yrs)	43.6%	7,688
2009 (11 yrs)	46%	8,723

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 8,723Avg Mileage 90,569Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.8%

2010High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 7,688Avg Mileage 95,724Top Failure Suspension — 34.6%

2011High Fail Rate

40.4%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 6,446Avg Mileage 97,974Top Failure Suspension — 40.0%

2012High Fail Rate

39.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,971Avg Mileage 100,292Top Failure Suspension — 42.8%

2013High Fail Rate

38.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 3,744Avg Mileage 100,634Top Failure Suspension — 120.1%

2014High Fail Rate

40.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,702Avg Mileage 101,185Top Failure Suspension — 117.0%

2015High Fail Rate

39.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,949Avg Mileage 103,783Top Failure Suspension — 120.5%

2016High Fail Rate

40.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,349Avg Mileage 101,961Top Failure Suspension — 118.8%

2017High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 925Avg Mileage 99,149Top Failure Suspension — 115.1%

2018High Fail Rate

45.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 451Avg Mileage 98,577Top Failure Suspension — 104.4%

2019High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 328Avg Mileage 95,457Top Failure Suspension — 86.0%

2020High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 292Avg Mileage 97,006Top Failure Suspension — 78.1%

2021High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 273Avg Mileage 95,356Top Failure Suspension — 87.2%

2022High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 179Avg Mileage 96,251Top Failure Suspension — 87.7%

2023High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 185Avg Mileage 93,547Top Failure Suspension — 117.8%

2024High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 301Avg Mileage 89,611Top Failure Suspension — 55.5%

MOT results for 1998 Mazda 323 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	46.0%	8,723	90,569	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.8%
2010	12	43.6%	7,688	95,724	Suspension — 34.6%
2011	13	40.4%	6,446	97,974	Suspension — 40.0%
2012	14	39.9%	4,971	100,292	Suspension — 42.8%
2013	15	38.8%	3,744	100,634	Suspension — 120.1%
2014	16	40.8%	2,702	101,185	Suspension — 117.0%
2015	17	39.6%	1,949	103,783	Suspension — 120.5%
2016	18	40.7%	1,349	101,961	Suspension — 118.8%
2017	19	46.5%	925	99,149	Suspension — 115.1%
2018	20	45.0%	451	98,577	Suspension — 104.4%
2019	21	50.3%	328	95,457	Suspension — 86.0%
2020	22	52.1%	292	97,006	Suspension — 78.1%
2021	23	56.0%	273	95,356	Suspension — 87.2%
2022	24	55.3%	179	96,251	Suspension — 87.7%
2023	25	56.2%	185	93,547	Suspension — 117.8%
2024	26	62.5%	301	89,611	Suspension — 55.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mazda 323, with age trends.

Suspension

84.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

56.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

46.7%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

46.3%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

30.5%

↓ 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	29.3% (11 yrs)	55.5% (26 yrs)	+26.2%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	27.2% (11 yrs)	42.5% (26 yrs)	+15.3%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	17.9% (11 yrs)	23.3% (26 yrs)	+5.4%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 40,506 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.