1997 Mazda Mx3 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

52.9%

Latest Pass Rate

5,682

Total Tests (All Years)

84,540 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 Mx3 as it ages.

12 yrs44.1%

→ ↓2.7%

13 yrs41.4%

→ ↓1.9%

14 yrs39.5%

→ ↓0.4%

15 yrs39.1%

→ ↓0.9%

16 yrs38.2%

→ ↑2.8%

17 yrs41.0%

→ ↑3.6%

18 yrs44.6%

→ ↑0.4%

19 yrs45.0%

→ ↑9.4%

20 yrs54.4%

→ ↓5.6%

21 yrs48.8%

→ ↑4.1%

22 yrs52.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	44.1%	1,390
13 yrs	41.4%	1,160
14 yrs	39.5%	934
15 yrs	39.1%	683
16 yrs	38.2%	518
17 yrs	41.0%	378
18 yrs	44.6%	267
19 yrs	45.0%	209
20 yrs	54.4%	68
21 yrs	48.8%	41
22 yrs	52.9%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mazda Mx3 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (22 yrs)	52.9%	34
2018 (21 yrs)	48.8%	41
2017 (20 yrs)	54.4%	68
2016 (19 yrs)	45%	209
2015 (18 yrs)	44.6%	267
2014 (17 yrs)	41%	378
2013 (16 yrs)	38.2%	518
2012 (15 yrs)	39.1%	683
2011 (14 yrs)	39.5%	934
2010 (13 yrs)	41.4%	1,160
2009 (12 yrs)	44.1%	1,390

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

44.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,390Avg Mileage 90,045Top Failure Brakes — 36.3%

2010High Fail Rate

41.4%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,160Avg Mileage 92,511Top Failure Brakes — 38.3%

2011High Fail Rate

39.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 934Avg Mileage 95,162Top Failure Suspension — 41.0%

2012High Fail Rate

39.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 683Avg Mileage 94,197Top Failure Suspension — 42.0%

2013High Fail Rate

38.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 518Avg Mileage 94,571Top Failure Brakes — 114.7%

2014High Fail Rate

41.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 378Avg Mileage 94,133Top Failure Suspension — 114.6%

2015High Fail Rate

44.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 267Avg Mileage 93,084Top Failure Suspension — 111.2%

2016High Fail Rate

45.0%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 209Avg Mileage 93,412Top Failure Brakes — 95.2%

2017High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 68Avg Mileage 88,131Top Failure Suspension — 92.6%

2018High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 41Avg Mileage 89,618Top Failure Brakes — 82.9%

2019High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 34Avg Mileage 84,540Top Failure Brakes — 70.6%

MOT results for 1997 Mazda Mx3 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	44.1%	1,390	90,045	Brakes — 36.3%
2010	13	41.4%	1,160	92,511	Brakes — 38.3%
2011	14	39.5%	934	95,162	Suspension — 41.0%
2012	15	39.1%	683	94,197	Suspension — 42.0%
2013	16	38.2%	518	94,571	Brakes — 114.7%
2014	17	41.0%	378	94,133	Suspension — 114.6%
2015	18	44.6%	267	93,084	Suspension — 111.2%
2016	19	45.0%	209	93,412	Brakes — 95.2%
2017	20	54.4%	68	88,131	Suspension — 92.6%
2018	21	48.8%	41	89,618	Brakes — 82.9%
2019	22	52.9%	34	84,540	Brakes — 70.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mazda Mx3, with age trends.

Suspension

73.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

71.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

26.7%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

24.0%

↑ 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	36.3% (12 yrs)	70.6% (22 yrs)	+34.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	33.7% (12 yrs)	55.9% (22 yrs)	+22.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.3% (12 yrs)	26.5% (22 yrs)	+11.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

← Back to Mazda Mx3 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mazda Mx3 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda Mx3 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 5,682 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.