Mazda Rx-7 MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mazda Rx-7 MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mazda Rx-7 passed on its first attempt in 92.6%, and its overall record sits +11.9 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mazda Rx-7 in the 2023–2025 data: 492 tests across 5 model years (2003–2007). 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 Rx-7 MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mazda Rx-7, the Noise, emissions and leaks 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 Rx-7's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mazda Rx-7 DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mazda Rx-7, each with how many of the model's 492 tests it was noted on.

• "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 10 Mazda Rx-7 tests, 2.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 8 Mazda Rx-7 tests, 1.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 7 Mazda Rx-7 tests, 1.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 6 Mazda Rx-7 tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Emissions not tested unable to be completed" (Major) — noted on about 5 Mazda Rx-7 tests, 1.0% 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 5 Mazda Rx-7 tests, 1.0% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mazda Rx-7 Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mazda Rx-7 model year on record is 2007 (97.4% across 78 tests), and the weakest is 2006 (84.8%). The gap between them is 12.6 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 Rx-7 Owners

These checks follow this Mazda Rx-7's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mazda Rx-7.

• the exhaust and emissions — “catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits”

  Listen for a blow at idle and have someone rev it gently. Then look at the tailpipe smoke: blue is oil, white when warm is coolant, black is over-fuelling. Any of those and the emissions test is the least of it.

• 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 windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mazda Rx-7. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mazda Rx-7 MOT & Reliability