1997 Mazda Mx-3 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

57.9%

Latest Pass Rate

592

Total Tests (All Years)

77,392 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 1997 Mazda Mx-3 as it ages.

12 yrs34.4%

→ ↑8.3%

20 yrs42.7%

→ ↓1.5%

21 yrs41.2%

→ ↑2.0%

22 yrs43.2%

→ ↑10.8%

23 yrs54.0%

→ ↓0.2%

24 yrs53.8%

→ ↓2.6%

25 yrs51.2%

→ ↑13.6%

26 yrs64.8%

→ ↓6.9%

27 yrs57.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	34.4%	64
20 yrs	42.7%	89
21 yrs	41.2%	51
22 yrs	43.2%	37
23 yrs	54.0%	63
24 yrs	53.8%	65
25 yrs	51.2%	43
26 yrs	64.8%	54
27 yrs	57.9%	126

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mazda Mx-3 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	57.9%	126
2023 (26 yrs)	64.8%	54
2022 (25 yrs)	51.2%	43
2021 (24 yrs)	53.8%	65
2020 (23 yrs)	54%	63
2019 (22 yrs)	43.2%	37
2018 (21 yrs)	41.2%	51
2017 (20 yrs)	42.7%	89
2009 (12 yrs)	34.4%	64

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

34.4%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 64Avg Mileage 107,033Top Failure Brakes — 45.3%

2017High Fail Rate

42.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 89Avg Mileage 91,668Top Failure Brakes — 115.7%

2018High Fail Rate

41.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 51Avg Mileage 91,962Top Failure Suspension — 117.6%

2019High Fail Rate

43.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 37Avg Mileage 94,826Top Failure Brakes — 110.8%

2020High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 63Avg Mileage 83,832Top Failure Brakes — 87.3%

2021High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 65Avg Mileage 89,479Top Failure Brakes — 95.4%

2022High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 43Avg Mileage 86,985Top Failure Suspension — 107.0%

2023High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 54Avg Mileage 83,649Top Failure Brakes — 77.8%

2024High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 126Avg Mileage 77,392Top Failure Brakes — 67.5%

MOT results for 1997 Mazda Mx-3 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	34.4%	64	107,033	Brakes — 45.3%
2017	20	42.7%	89	91,668	Brakes — 115.7%
2018	21	41.2%	51	91,962	Suspension — 117.6%
2019	22	43.2%	37	94,826	Brakes — 110.8%
2020	23	54.0%	63	83,832	Brakes — 87.3%
2021	24	53.8%	65	89,479	Brakes — 95.4%
2022	25	51.2%	43	86,985	Suspension — 107.0%
2023	26	64.8%	54	83,649	Brakes — 77.8%
2024	27	57.9%	126	77,392	Brakes — 67.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mazda Mx-3, with age trends.

Brakes

86.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

76.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

48.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

34.0%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

33.8%

↑ 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
Brakes	45.3% (12 yrs)	67.5% (27 yrs)	+22.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	39.1% (12 yrs)	58.7% (27 yrs)	+19.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

← Back to Mazda Mx-3 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mazda Mx-3 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda Mx-3 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 592 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.