Mazda Rx7 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 9,364 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 33.6%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mazda Rx7 MOT Reliability Overview
The Mazda Rx7 is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 9,364 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 24 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.4% and a failure rate of 33.6%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mazda Rx7 earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Mazda Rx7 presents for MOT with approximately 88,369 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2003 models achieve the highest pass rate at 83.3%, while 1987 models have the lowest at 45.8%. This 37.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mazda Rx7 is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 30.8% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Brakes at 21.8%. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions rounds out the top three at 18.0%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 4 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Mazda Rx7 vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 24 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Mazda Rx7. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 14 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Mazda Rx7 shows a relatively stable failure rate after warranty — the change of 0% is negligible. Peak failure occurs at age 14 (38.7% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
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 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 44.4% | 4,159 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.4% | 3,126 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.9% | 2,516 |
| 4 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 25.3% | 2,365 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.3% | 1,155 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 10.1% | 948 |
| 7 | Body, Structure And General Items | 5.4% | 510 |
| 8 | Steering | 5.1% | 478 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 4.3% | 398 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 3.9% | 366 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 1.7% | 158 |
| 12 | Items Not Tested | 1.2% | 114 |
| 13 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.6% | 56 |
| 14 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.2% | 20 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 88,369 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.02 | 44.4% | 4,159 |
| Brakes | 3.78 | 33.4% | 3,126 |
| Suspension | 3.04 | 26.9% | 2,516 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 2.86 | 25.3% | 2,365 |
| Tyres | 1.40 | 12.3% | 1,155 |
| Visibility | 1.15 | 10.1% | 948 |
| Body & Structure | 0.64 | 5.6% | 530 |
| Steering | 0.58 | 5.1% | 478 |
| Seat Belts | 0.48 | 4.3% | 398 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.44 | 3.9% | 366 |
| Wheels | 0.19 | 1.7% | 158 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.14 | 1.2% | 114 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.07 | 0.6% | 56 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mazda Rx7 has 88,369 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 Rx7 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.80% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mazda Rx7 MOT Data
The Mazda Rx7 is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 9,364 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 24 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.4% and a failure rate of 33.6%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mazda Rx7 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes 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 Rx7 is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 30.8% of MOT failures on the Mazda Rx7. 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.
Brakes — 21.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 21.8% of MOT failures on the Mazda Rx7. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 18.0% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 18.0% of MOT failures on the Mazda Rx7. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda Rx7?
Based on 9,364 MOT tests in our database, the Mazda Rx7 has an overall pass rate of 66.4% (33.6% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mazda Rx7?
The top 3 reasons a Mazda Rx7 fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (30.8%), 2. Brakes (21.8%), 3. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (18.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mazda Rx7 reliable?
With a 33.6% MOT failure rate, the Rx7 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mazda Rx7?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (30.8%); Brakes (21.8%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (18.0%). 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.