1994 Mazda MX-5 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1994 perform at MOT as they age

32 years

Current Age

68.3%

Latest Pass Rate

24,840

Total Tests (All Years)

103,885 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 1994 Mazda MX-5 as it ages.

15 yrs55.0%

→ ↓0.2%

16 yrs54.8%

→ ↓0.4%

17 yrs54.4%

→ ↓1.9%

18 yrs52.5%

→ ↓1.4%

19 yrs51.1%

→ ↑3.5%

20 yrs54.6%

→ ↑0.4%

21 yrs55.0%

→ ↑0.9%

22 yrs55.9%

→ ↑3.4%

23 yrs59.3%

→ ↓0.5%

24 yrs58.8%

→ ↑4.7%

25 yrs63.5%

→ ↓1.5%

26 yrs62.0%

→ ↑3.0%

27 yrs65.0%

→ ↓0.5%

28 yrs64.5%

→ ↑5.3%

29 yrs69.8%

→ ↓1.5%

30 yrs68.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
15 yrs	55.0%	2,917
16 yrs	54.8%	2,666
17 yrs	54.4%	2,594
18 yrs	52.5%	2,353
19 yrs	51.1%	2,192
20 yrs	54.6%	2,064
21 yrs	55.0%	1,930
22 yrs	55.9%	1,741
23 yrs	59.3%	1,547
24 yrs	58.8%	1,072
25 yrs	63.5%	997
26 yrs	62.0%	853
27 yrs	65.0%	420
28 yrs	64.5%	338
29 yrs	69.8%	400
30 yrs	68.3%	756

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1994 Mazda MX-5 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (30 yrs)	68.3%	756
2023 (29 yrs)	69.8%	400
2022 (28 yrs)	64.5%	338
2021 (27 yrs)	65%	420
2020 (26 yrs)	62%	853
2019 (25 yrs)	63.5%	997
2018 (24 yrs)	58.8%	1,072
2017 (23 yrs)	59.3%	1,547
2016 (22 yrs)	55.9%	1,741
2015 (21 yrs)	55%	1,930
2014 (20 yrs)	54.6%	2,064
2013 (19 yrs)	51.1%	2,192
2012 (18 yrs)	52.5%	2,353
2011 (17 yrs)	54.4%	2,594
2010 (16 yrs)	54.8%	2,666
2009 (15 yrs)	55%	2,917

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 2,917Avg Mileage 107,834Top Failure Brakes — 26.9%

2010High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,666Avg Mileage 111,076Top Failure Brakes — 26.4%

2011High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,594Avg Mileage 113,541Top Failure Brakes — 25.8%

2012High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 2,353Avg Mileage 115,903Top Failure Brakes — 27.1%

2013High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 2,192Avg Mileage 119,162Top Failure Brakes — 71.4%

2014High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 2,064Avg Mileage 121,335Top Failure Brakes — 65.8%

2015High Fail Rate

55.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,930Avg Mileage 122,949Top Failure Brakes — 59.7%

2016High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,741Avg Mileage 125,547Top Failure Brakes — 58.5%

2017High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 1,547Avg Mileage 126,667Top Failure Brakes — 52.6%

2018High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,072Avg Mileage 127,418Top Failure Brakes — 53.9%

2019High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 997Avg Mileage 127,863Top Failure Brakes — 42.9%

2020High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 853Avg Mileage 129,124Top Failure Brakes — 49.9%

2021

65.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 420Avg Mileage 111,546Top Failure Suspension — 55.7%

2022High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 338Avg Mileage 105,977Top Failure Suspension — 60.1%

2023

69.8%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 400Avg Mileage 103,785Top Failure Suspension — 49.0%

2024

68.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 756Avg Mileage 103,885Top Failure Suspension — 41.1%

MOT results for 1994 Mazda MX-5 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	15	55.0%	2,917	107,834	Brakes — 26.9%
2010	16	54.8%	2,666	111,076	Brakes — 26.4%
2011	17	54.4%	2,594	113,541	Brakes — 25.8%
2012	18	52.5%	2,353	115,903	Brakes — 27.1%
2013	19	51.1%	2,192	119,162	Brakes — 71.4%
2014	20	54.6%	2,064	121,335	Brakes — 65.8%
2015	21	55.0%	1,930	122,949	Brakes — 59.7%
2016	22	55.9%	1,741	125,547	Brakes — 58.5%
2017	23	59.3%	1,547	126,667	Brakes — 52.6%
2018	24	58.8%	1,072	127,418	Brakes — 53.9%
2019	25	63.5%	997	127,863	Brakes — 42.9%
2020	26	62.0%	853	129,124	Brakes — 49.9%
2021	27	65.0%	420	111,546	Suspension — 55.7%
2022	28	64.5%	338	105,977	Suspension — 60.1%
2023	29	69.8%	400	103,785	Suspension — 49.0%
2024	30	68.3%	756	103,885	Suspension — 41.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1994 Mazda MX-5, with age trends.

Brakes

46.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

39.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

28.4%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

20.8%

↓ 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	13.9% (15 yrs)	41.1% (30 yrs)	+27.2%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	26.9% (15 yrs)	38.9% (30 yrs)	+12.0%	🔴 ↑

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 1994 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 24,840 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.