Mazda 3 MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Mazda 3 passed 68.3% of its first MOT tests, from 109,800 tests in Great Britain. That is 3.1 points below the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Mazda 3 MOT failures
The area that failed most often was suspension, affecting 14.6% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Suspension 14.6% vs 8.9%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 10.8% vs 11.3%
- Brakes 7.3% vs 6.8%
- Tyres 6.6% vs 6.3%
- Visibility 4.2% vs 4.8%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 3.5% vs 3.1%
- Body, chassis, structure 2.3% vs 3.4%
- Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 0.8% vs 1.0%
- Ball joint 4.9% vs 1.8%
- Coil spring 4.6% vs 2.6%
- Position lamp 4.3% vs 2.8%
- Tyres: condition 4.0% vs 3.7%
- Brake pads 3.4% vs 2.1%
- Headlamp aim 3.0% vs 3.3%
- Tread depth 2.8% vs 2.6%
- Malfunction indicator lamp 2.6% vs 1.5%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: Fractured or broken | 4.6% |
| Position lamp: Not working | 4.1% |
| Ball joint excessively worn | 4.1% |
| Brake pads: Less than 1.5 mm thick | 3.2% |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 2.7% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: Inoperative or indicates a malfunction | 2.3% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 2.0% |
| Stop lamp: Not working | 1.7% |
| Washers: Provides insufficient washer liquid | 1.5% |
| Headlamp: Not working on dipped beam | 1.4% |
Mazda 3 pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 87.8% for cars aged 3 to 5 years and 50.8% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 3 to 5 years 87.8% vs 71.4%
- 6 to 9 years 75.1% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 62.5% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 50.8% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 93,393 | 68.7% |
| Diesel | 16,394 | 66.2% |
Most common Mazda 3 advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 18.1%
- Brake discs 12.5%
- Brake pads 11.7%
- Tyres: condition 11.7%
- Sub-frame 6.5%
- Vehicle 6.1%
- Pins and bushes 5.9%
- Linkage ball joints 4.5%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Mazda models
Similar popular models
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda 3?
In 2023, 68.3% of Mazda 3 MOT tests were passed first time, from 109,800 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Mazda 3?
The most common failure area was suspension, which caused 14.6% of tests to fail. Next came lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (10.8%) and brakes (7.3%).
Is the Mazda 3 reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 68.3% is 3.1 points below the average and ranks 65 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Mazda 3's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.