Mazda Rx3 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 50 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 14.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mazda Rx3 MOT Reliability Overview
The Mazda Rx3 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 50 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.0% and a failure rate of 14.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mazda Rx3 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Mazda Rx3 presents for MOT with approximately 51,288 miles on the clock. The 1973 manufacture year performs best with a 83.3% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Mazda Rx3 is Driver's View of the Road, affecting 6.0% of all tests. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Suspension at 6.0%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment rounds out the top three at 6.0%. 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
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 | Driver's View Of The Road | 8.0% | 4 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 8.0% | 4 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 3 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.0% | 2 |
| 6 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 4.0% | 2 |
| 7 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.0% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 51,288 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 1.56 | 8.0% | 4 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.56 | 8.0% | 4 |
| Brakes | 1.17 | 6.0% | 3 |
| Suspension | 1.17 | 6.0% | 3 |
| Steering | 0.78 | 4.0% | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 0.78 | 4.0% | 2 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.39 | 2.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mazda Rx3 has 51,288 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 Rx3 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.73% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mazda Rx3 MOT Data
The Mazda Rx3 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 50 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.0% and a failure rate of 14.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mazda Rx3 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on driver's view of the road and suspension 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 Rx3 is likely to perform.
Driver's View of the Road — 6.0% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 6.0% of MOT failures on the Mazda Rx3. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Suspension — 6.0% of failures
Suspension issues account for 6.0% of MOT failures on the Mazda Rx3. 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.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 6.0% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 6.0% of MOT failures on the Mazda Rx3. 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 Rx3?
Based on 50 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Mazda Rx3 has an overall pass rate of 86.0% (14.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mazda Rx3?
The top 3 reasons a Mazda Rx3 fails its MOT are: 1. Driver's View of the Road (6.0%), 2. Suspension (6.0%), 3. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (6.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mazda Rx3 reliable?
With a 14.0% MOT failure rate, the Rx3 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mazda Rx3?
Based on failure data, focus on: Driver's View of the Road (6.0%); Suspension (6.0%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (6.0%). 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.