Mazda Mx-3 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,206 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 44.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mazda Mx-3 MOT Reliability Overview
The Mazda Mx-3 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,206 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 8 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 55.3% and a failure rate of 44.7%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mazda Mx-3 earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Mazda Mx-3 presents for MOT with approximately 90,986 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1992 models achieve the highest pass rate at 66.7%, while 1997 models have the lowest at 50.1%. This 16.6 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mazda Mx-3 is Suspension, affecting 73.4% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Brakes at 71.8%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment rounds out the top three at 24.2%. 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 | Brakes | 75.7% | 1,671 |
| 2 | Suspension | 75.7% | 1,671 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 35.8% | 789 |
| 4 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 23.1% | 510 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.3% | 447 |
| 6 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 14.0% | 309 |
| 7 | Visibility | 8.3% | 184 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 6.8% | 150 |
| 9 | Steering | 6.0% | 133 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 4.3% | 94 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 4.1% | 90 |
| 12 | Driver's View Of The Road | 3.8% | 84 |
| 13 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 3.2% | 71 |
| 14 | Body, Structure And General Items | 3.1% | 69 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 90,986 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 8.33 | 75.7% | 1,671 |
| Suspension | 8.33 | 75.7% | 1,671 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.93 | 35.8% | 789 |
| Body & Structure | 2.88 | 26.2% | 579 |
| Tyres | 2.23 | 20.3% | 447 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.54 | 14.0% | 309 |
| Visibility | 1.34 | 12.1% | 268 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.75 | 6.8% | 150 |
| Steering | 0.66 | 6.0% | 133 |
| Seat Belts | 0.47 | 4.3% | 94 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.45 | 4.1% | 90 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.35 | 3.2% | 71 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mazda Mx-3 has 90,986 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 Mx-3 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.91% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mazda Mx-3 MOT Data
The Mazda Mx-3 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,206 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 8 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 55.3% and a failure rate of 44.7%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mazda Mx-3 owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes 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 Mx-3 is likely to perform.
Suspension — 73.4% of failures
Suspension issues account for 73.4% of MOT failures on the Mazda Mx-3. 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.
Brakes — 71.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 71.8% of MOT failures on the Mazda Mx-3. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.2% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 24.2% of MOT failures on the Mazda Mx-3. 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 Mx-3?
Based on 2,206 MOT tests in our database, the Mazda Mx-3 has an overall pass rate of 55.3% (44.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mazda Mx-3?
The top 3 reasons a Mazda Mx-3 fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (73.4%), 2. Brakes (71.8%), 3. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (24.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mazda Mx-3 reliable?
With a 44.7% MOT failure rate, the Mx-3 is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mazda Mx-3?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (73.4%); Brakes (71.8%); Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (24.2%). 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.