1997 Mazda Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

69.4%

Latest Pass Rate

2,146

Total Tests (All Years)

121,218 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 Unclassified as it ages.

12 yrs57.8%

→ ↑0.8%

13 yrs58.6%

→ ↓2.6%

14 yrs56.0%

→ ↓4.2%

15 yrs51.8%

→ ↓8.2%

16 yrs43.6%

→ ↑9.7%

17 yrs53.3%

→ ↓3.7%

18 yrs49.6%

→ ↑0.4%

19 yrs50.0%

→ ↑2.8%

20 yrs52.8%

→ ↓1.9%

21 yrs50.9%

→ ↑2.7%

22 yrs53.6%

→ ↓4.7%

23 yrs48.9%

→ ↑20.5%

27 yrs69.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	57.8%	325
13 yrs	58.6%	302
14 yrs	56.0%	266
15 yrs	51.8%	226
16 yrs	43.6%	156
17 yrs	53.3%	122
18 yrs	49.6%	129
19 yrs	50.0%	136
20 yrs	52.8%	144
21 yrs	50.9%	106
22 yrs	53.6%	97
23 yrs	48.9%	88
27 yrs	69.4%	49

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	69.4%	49
2020 (23 yrs)	48.9%	88
2019 (22 yrs)	53.6%	97
2018 (21 yrs)	50.9%	106
2017 (20 yrs)	52.8%	144
2016 (19 yrs)	50%	136
2015 (18 yrs)	49.6%	129
2014 (17 yrs)	53.3%	122
2013 (16 yrs)	43.6%	156
2012 (15 yrs)	51.8%	226
2011 (14 yrs)	56%	266
2010 (13 yrs)	58.6%	302
2009 (12 yrs)	57.8%	325

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 325Avg Mileage 109,460Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%

2010High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 302Avg Mileage 118,252Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.5%

2011High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 266Avg Mileage 120,903Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.9%

2012High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 226Avg Mileage 127,005Top Failure Suspension — 27.4%

2013High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 156Avg Mileage 129,854Top Failure Suspension — 82.7%

2014High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 122Avg Mileage 131,432Top Failure Suspension — 63.9%

2015High Fail Rate

49.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 129Avg Mileage 138,325Top Failure Suspension — 73.6%

2016High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 136Avg Mileage 142,173Top Failure Suspension — 72.1%

2017High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 144Avg Mileage 152,141Top Failure Suspension — 95.1%

2018High Fail Rate

50.9%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 106Avg Mileage 150,905Top Failure Suspension — 82.1%

2019High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 97Avg Mileage 149,249Top Failure Suspension — 99.0%

2020High Fail Rate

48.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 88Avg Mileage 157,522Top Failure Suspension — 115.9%

2024

69.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 49Avg Mileage 121,218Top Failure Suspension — 67.3%

MOT results for 1997 Mazda Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	57.8%	325	109,460	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%
2010	13	58.6%	302	118,252	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.5%
2011	14	56.0%	266	120,903	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.9%
2012	15	51.8%	226	127,005	Suspension — 27.4%
2013	16	43.6%	156	129,854	Suspension — 82.7%
2014	17	53.3%	122	131,432	Suspension — 63.9%
2015	18	49.6%	129	138,325	Suspension — 73.6%
2016	19	50.0%	136	142,173	Suspension — 72.1%
2017	20	52.8%	144	152,141	Suspension — 95.1%
2018	21	50.9%	106	150,905	Suspension — 82.1%
2019	22	53.6%	97	149,249	Suspension — 99.0%
2020	23	48.9%	88	157,522	Suspension — 115.9%
2024	27	69.4%	49	121,218	Suspension — 67.3%

Common MOT Failures

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

Suspension

64.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

43.1%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.7%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

33.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.5%

↑ 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
Suspension	20.3% (12 yrs)	67.3% (27 yrs)	+47.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	16.0% (12 yrs)	36.7% (27 yrs)	+20.7%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	11.1% (12 yrs)	22.4% (27 yrs)	+11.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda Unclassified cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,146 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.