Mazda 3 years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

104,175 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2005–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Mazda 3 years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2005–2011 and 2015–2017. Above it: 2013–2014 and 2018–2022. The other year can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2005–2011 and 2015–2017
Above the average for their first-use year2013–2014 and 2018–2022
Can't be told apart from average2012

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

68.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 68.5% to 69.1%.

Mazda 3, all years68.8%
Same-age average, all vehicles70.2%

In 2025, 68.8% of the 104,175 initial MOT tests on Mazda 3 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 70.2%. That is 1.3 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific 3

Its own MOT history, free.

Mazda 3 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	2,58022,500	92.0%±1.2	+3.5 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	4,09428,000	89.2%±1.0	+2.0 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	4,31233,200	87.2%±1.1	+1.2 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	4,45139,100	87.5%±1.1	+4.0 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	7,05246,800	82.7%±1.0	+1.8 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	8,18756,000	74.0%±1.0	−4.2 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	10,48265,000	73.0%±0.9	−1.9 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	11,62173,900	70.1%±0.9	−1.8 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	8,17679,100	70.3%±1.0	+1.7 ptsall: 68.6%
2013age 12	5,01081,700	68.3%±1.4	+2.5 ptsall: 65.8%
2012age 13	4,67992,300	63.2%±1.4	−0.3 ptsall: 63.5%
2011age 14	5,07395,200	56.4%±1.4	−4.8 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15	7,551101,100	57.8%±1.2	−1.5 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	6,614101,900	56.4%±1.2	−1.9 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	5,298101,100	50.7%±1.4	−6.5 ptsall: 57.2%
2007age 18	4,158104,100	51.9%±1.6	−5.5 ptsall: 57.4%
2006age 19	2,902105,100	51.0%±1.9	−6.0 ptsall: 57.0%
2005age 20	1,935103,400	48.0%±2.3	−9.6 ptsall: 57.6%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common 3 problems at the MOT

Share of the 32,486 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Suspension45.8%
Lights and electrics33.9%
Brakes22.6%
Tyres20.5%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors13.3%
Noise, emissions, leaks10.5%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a 3

Based on the areas where Mazda 3 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 45.8% of failed 3 tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Lights and electrics
In 33.9% of failed 3 tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Brakes
In 22.6% of failed 3 tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Tyres
In 20.5% of failed 3 tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a 3's MOT history

Mazda 3 questions

Which Mazda 3 years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2005–2011 and 2015–2017. Above average: 2013–2014 and 2018–2022. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Mazda 3 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 68.8% of initial MOT tests on Mazda 3 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 70.2%. That is 1.3 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Mazda 3 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 45.8% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 33.9% of failed tests) and brakes (in 22.6% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Mazda 3?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Mazda 3 cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 73,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific 3's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Mazda 3

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Mazda models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Mazda 3 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count