RegVerdict Model Intelligence
Mazda MX-5 reliability
MOT pass rates & common faults·154,015 DVSA tests·2024
Across 154,015 real DVSA MOT tests in 2024, 69% of Mazda MX-5 cars aged 13 years and older pass their MOT first time, ahead of the 61% average for all cars of that age. It holds up especially well on road wheels and steering.
69%
Strong for its agepass first time (13 years and older)
Strong for its age · beats 63% of peers
+7.9 pts
MOT pass rate by age
4 to 7 years
22,615 tests · fleet 85%
91%
8 to 12 years
26,158 tests · fleet 73%
84%
13 years and older
105,242 tests · fleet 61%
69%
Where the MX-5 fails
Suspension93
Brakes94
Body & structure97
Steering99
Tyres98
Lights & electrics94
Holds up better on road wheels, steering, tyres.
Share of 13 years and older Mazda MX-5 MOTs with no fault in each area; the marker shows the fleet average. OGL v3.0.
How it tends to age
How the Mazda MX-5 tends to age
The MOT areas flagged most often on Mazda MX-5 models 13 years and older. It is the model’s typical pattern across millions of tests, not a forecast for this specific car.
- Suspension · flagged on ~7% of MOTsGrows with age
- Brakes · flagged on ~6% of MOTs
- Lights & electrics · flagged on ~6% of MOTsGrows with age
- Emissions & leaks · flagged on ~4% of MOTs
Common questions
Is the Mazda MX-5 reliable?
On 2024 MOT data the Mazda MX-5 holds up well for its age: 69% of examples aged 13 years and older pass first time, against a 61% fleet average. That puts it ahead of 63% of similar-age models.
What is the MOT pass rate for a Mazda MX-5?
First-time MOT pass rates for the Mazda MX-5 in 2024: 4 to 7 years, 91%; 8 to 12 years, 84%; and 13 years and older, 69%. Pass rates fall with age across the whole fleet, so compare each figure with cars of the same age, not with a new car.
What commonly fails on a Mazda MX-5 MOT?
No single area stands out as a recurring weakness for the Mazda MX-5 versus other cars of the same age. Its MOT failures are spread across the usual wear items (tyres, brakes, lamps).
Other Mazda models
Check a Mazda MX-5’s full history