1989 Mazda MX-5 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

74.4%

Latest Pass Rate

5,676

Total Tests (All Years)

132,081 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 MX-5 as it ages.

20 yrs54.2%

→ ↓1.4%

21 yrs52.8%

→ ↑0.2%

22 yrs53.0%

→ ↓4.4%

23 yrs48.6%

→ ↑2.2%

24 yrs50.8%

→ ↑0.7%

25 yrs51.5%

→ ↑2.7%

26 yrs54.2%

→ ↑1.0%

27 yrs55.2%

→ ↑3.7%

28 yrs58.9%

→ ↓0.2%

29 yrs58.7%

→ ↑2.7%

30 yrs61.4%

→ ↑1.5%

31 yrs62.9%

→ ↑11.5%

35 yrs74.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	54.2%	747
21 yrs	52.8%	686
22 yrs	53.0%	656
23 yrs	48.6%	607
24 yrs	50.8%	557
25 yrs	51.5%	495
26 yrs	54.2%	450
27 yrs	55.2%	417
28 yrs	58.9%	358
29 yrs	58.7%	235
30 yrs	61.4%	228
31 yrs	62.9%	197
35 yrs	74.4%	43

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Mazda MX-5 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	74.4%	43
2020 (31 yrs)	62.9%	197
2019 (30 yrs)	61.4%	228
2018 (29 yrs)	58.7%	235
2017 (28 yrs)	58.9%	358
2016 (27 yrs)	55.2%	417
2015 (26 yrs)	54.2%	450
2014 (25 yrs)	51.5%	495
2013 (24 yrs)	50.8%	557
2012 (23 yrs)	48.6%	607
2011 (22 yrs)	53%	656
2010 (21 yrs)	52.8%	686
2009 (20 yrs)	54.2%	747

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 747Avg Mileage 133,808Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.0%

2010High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 686Avg Mileage 139,205Top Failure Brakes — 29.0%

2011High Fail Rate

53.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 656Avg Mileage 141,371Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.8%

2012High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 607Avg Mileage 142,672Top Failure Suspension — 29.8%

2013High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 557Avg Mileage 143,498Top Failure Brakes — 69.5%

2014High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 495Avg Mileage 147,751Top Failure Brakes — 70.1%

2015High Fail Rate

54.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 450Avg Mileage 146,565Top Failure Brakes — 57.3%

2016High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 417Avg Mileage 149,762Top Failure Suspension — 51.6%

2017High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 358Avg Mileage 147,857Top Failure Brakes — 60.9%

2018High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 235Avg Mileage 150,134Top Failure Brakes — 62.6%

2019High Fail Rate

61.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 228Avg Mileage 149,936Top Failure Brakes — 53.9%

2020High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 197Avg Mileage 152,555Top Failure Suspension — 48.2%

2024

74.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 43Avg Mileage 132,081Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 16.3%

MOT results for 1989 Mazda MX-5 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	54.2%	747	133,808	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.0%
2010	21	52.8%	686	139,205	Brakes — 29.0%
2011	22	53.0%	656	141,371	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.8%
2012	23	48.6%	607	142,672	Suspension — 29.8%
2013	24	50.8%	557	143,498	Brakes — 69.5%
2014	25	51.5%	495	147,751	Brakes — 70.1%
2015	26	54.2%	450	146,565	Brakes — 57.3%
2016	27	55.2%	417	149,762	Suspension — 51.6%
2017	28	58.9%	358	147,857	Brakes — 60.9%
2018	29	58.7%	235	150,134	Brakes — 62.6%
2019	30	61.4%	228	149,936	Brakes — 53.9%
2020	31	62.9%	197	152,555	Suspension — 48.2%
2024	35	74.4%	43	132,081	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 16.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Mazda MX-5, with age trends.

Brakes

46.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

41.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

31.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

17.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	28.9% (20 yrs)	11.6% (35 yrs)	-17.3%	🟢 ↓
Tyres	9.2% (20 yrs)	9.3% (35 yrs)	+0.1%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mazda MX-5 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda MX-5 cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,676 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.