Mazda 5: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mazda 5 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 17.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 10,640 individual Mazda 5 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 59% first-time pass rate means roughly 41 in every 100 Mazda 5s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Mazda 5 tested had covered 103,589 miles and was built around 2010.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mazda 5 sits 17.7 points below the national average, ranked 1,964 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mazda 5 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Mazda 5s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mazda 5

1. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 3.5% of tests (6.87x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 23.8% of tests (4.74x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.2% of tests (4.43x the national rate for this defect)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.2% of tests (4.14x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 6.2% of tests (3.38x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.8% of tests (3.04x the national rate for this defect)
7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.2% of tests (2.76x the national rate for this defect)
8. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3.3% of tests (2.67x the national rate for this defect)
9. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 4.2% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5.4% of tests (2.28x the national rate for this defect)

From 10,631 DVSA-tracked Mazda 5 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.15% of these flagged Mazda 5 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mazda 5

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Mazda 5 before it actually fails on it.

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 11.4% of tests (7.53x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 8.9% of tests (7.14x the national rate for this advisory)
3. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 30.8% of tests (5.95x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 4.9% of tests (4.45x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 11.2% of tests (3.94x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 42.4% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 6.4% of tests (2.42x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 6.9% of tests (1.76x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 19.4% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this advisory)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14.7% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this advisory)

From 10,631 DVSA-tracked Mazda 5 tests, 2024.

Mazda 5 pass rate by model year

From its 2006 to its 2015 model year, the Mazda 5's first-time pass rate has risen 18.1 points, from 53.5% to 71.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mazda 5 year:

• 2006 Mazda 5 - 53.5% first-time pass, 652 tests
• 2007 Mazda 5 - 53.6% first-time pass, 1,502 tests
• 2008 Mazda 5 - 55.7% first-time pass, 1,830 tests
• 2009 Mazda 5 - 57.1% first-time pass, 1,250 tests
• 2010 Mazda 5 - 59.3% first-time pass, 1,443 tests
• 2011 Mazda 5 - 63.1% first-time pass, 812 tests
• 2012 Mazda 5 - 66.2% first-time pass, 785 tests
• 2013 Mazda 5 - 65.1% first-time pass, 767 tests
• 2014 Mazda 5 - 68.2% first-time pass, 597 tests
• 2015 Mazda 5 - 71.6% first-time pass, 697 tests

Mazda 5 by fuel type

The Mazda 5's two most-tested fuel types split by 2.6 points: petrol passes first time 58.9% of the time (7,648 tests) against 61.5% for diesel (2,877 tests).

• Petrol Mazda 5 - 58.9% first-time pass, 7,648 tests
• Diesel Mazda 5 - 61.5% first-time pass, 2,877 tests

Other Mazda models

• Mazda 2 - 73.4%
• Mazda 3 - 73.4%
• Mazda Mx-5 - 77.2%
• Mazda 6 - 74%
• Mazda Cx-5 - 83.1%
• Mazda Cx-3 - 88%
• Mazda Bongo - 58.1%
• Mazda 2 GT Sport Nav Mhev - 93.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Ford Focus C-Max - 59.5%
• Renault Grand Espace - 59.4%
• Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin - 59.1%
• Nissan Pathfinder - 58.8%
• Hyundai Matrix - 58.7%
• Renault Grand Modus - 58.7%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate