Mazda MX5 MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mazda MX5 MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mazda MX5 passed on its first attempt in 82.0%, and its overall record sits +3.4 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mazda MX5 in the 2023–2025 data: 103 tests across 2 model years (2012–2016). 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 MX5 MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mazda MX5, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 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 MX5's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mazda MX5 DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mazda MX5, each with how many of the model's 103 tests it was noted on.

• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 6 Mazda MX5 tests, 5.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 6 Mazda MX5 tests, 5.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (Major) — noted on about 3 Mazda MX5 tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Service brake performance efficiency below requirements" (Major) — noted on about 3 Mazda MX5 tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" (Major) — noted on about 3 Mazda MX5 tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 2 Mazda MX5 tests, 1.9% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mazda MX5 Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mazda MX5 model year on record is 2012 (90.2% across 51 tests), and the weakest is 2016 (78.8%). The gap between them is 11.4 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

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

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Mazda MX5 Owners

These checks follow this Mazda MX5's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mazda MX5.

• the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

  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.

• 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.

• the wipers and washers — “wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively”

  Run the wipers with the screen wet: they should clear it in one sweep without smearing or juddering. Top the washer bottle up and check both jets hit the screen.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mazda MX5. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mazda MX5 MOT & Reliability