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1988 Mazda B-series MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for B-series models manufactured in 1988, based on 69 real MOT test results.

56.5%
Pass Rate
43.5%
Fail Rate
69
Total Tests
120,577
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1988 Mazda B-series MOT Analysis

The 1988 Mazda B-series has an MOT pass rate of 56.5% based on 69 tests — slightly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 120,577 miles on the odometer. With a 43.5% failure rate, the 1988 B-series is rated as "Below Average" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1988 Mazda B-series is Non-component advisories, responsible for 2.9% of failures. Non-component advisories 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 range from £100–400. Suspension is the second most common issue at 2.9%. Visibility follows at 2.9%.

⚠ Based on limited data (69 tests)

Top failures specific to 1988 models only. The overall B-series page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

Non-component advisories 2.9%
Suspension 2.9%
Visibility 2.9%

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Non-component Advisories2.9%2
2Suspension2.9%2
3Visibility2.9%2

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 120,577 mi

For 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.

Non-component advisories0.24% per 10K miSuspension0.24% per 10K miVisibility0.24% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Non-component advisories0.242.9%2
Suspension0.242.9%2
Visibility0.242.9%2

Mileage Statistics

120,577
Mean
127,145
Median
77,214
25th Percentile
189,682
75th Percentile
3.61% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1988 Mazda B-series has an MOT pass rate of 56.5% based on 69 tests — slightly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 120,577 miles on the odometer. With a 43.5% failure rate, the 1988 B-series is rated as "Below Average" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1988 Mazda B-series, budget for potential repairs before each MOT. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to non-component advisories: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights. With an average mileage of 120,577 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.

Non-component advisories — 2.9% of failures

Non-component advisories issues account for 2.9% of MOT failures on 1988 Mazda B-series models. Non-component advisories 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.

Suspension — 2.9% of failures

Suspension issues account for 2.9% of MOT failures on 1988 Mazda B-series models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Visibility — 2.9% of failures

Visibility issues account for 2.9% of MOT failures on 1988 Mazda B-series models. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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