Mazda E Series MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mazda E Series MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mazda E Series passed on its first attempt in 65.6%, and its overall record sits −8.3 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mazda E Series in the 2023–2025 data: 2,566 tests across 12 model years (2000–2018). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Mazda E Series MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mazda E Series, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Mazda E Series's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mazda E Series DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mazda E Series, each with how many of the model's 2,566 tests it was noted on.

• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 162 Mazda E Series tests, 6.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (Major) — noted on about 140 Mazda E Series tests, 5.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 105 Mazda E Series tests, 4.1% of the model's MOT record.
• "Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt" (Minor) — noted on about 91 Mazda E Series tests, 3.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 91 Mazda E Series tests, 3.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 74 Mazda E Series tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mazda E Series Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mazda E Series model year on record is 2018 (84.5% across 103 tests), and the weakest is 2012 (63.9%). The gap between them is 20.6 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Mazda E Series reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 3.6 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Mazda E Series Owners

These checks follow this Mazda E Series's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mazda E Series.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• corrosion — “component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”

  Look under the sills, around the jacking points and where the suspension mounts meet the body. Flaking, holed or crumbly metal fails; a brown stain on sound metal does not.

• the lights — “headlamp lens slightly defective”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mazda E Series. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mazda E Series MOT & Reliability