Mazda Cx-7: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mazda Cx-7 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 13.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,302 individual Mazda Cx-7 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 63.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 37 in every 100 Mazda Cx-7s 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 Cx-7 tested had covered 104,656 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. On a Mazda Cx-7 bought as a 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 Cx-7 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 what damaged Mazda Cx-7s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mazda Cx-7

1. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 2.4% of tests (8.7x the national rate for this defect)
2. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 7.5% of tests (7.95x the national rate for this defect)
3. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 5.1% of tests (5.24x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 2.3% of tests (5.18x the national rate for this defect)
5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.2% of tests (3.79x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 6.1% of tests (3.48x the national rate for this defect)
7. 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, 2.8% of tests (3.31x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.2% of tests (2.84x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.9% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,071 DVSA-tracked Mazda Cx-7 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.62% of these flagged Mazda Cx-7 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Mazda Cx-7 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Mazda Cx-7 year:

• 2010 Mazda Cx-7 - 61.8% first-time pass, 390 tests
• 2011 Mazda Cx-7 - 64.1% first-time pass, 354 tests

Mazda Cx-7 by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

• Diesel Mazda Cx-7 - 63.1% first-time pass, 955 tests
• Petrol Mazda Cx-7 - 64.4% first-time pass, 337 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 5 - 59%
• Mazda Bongo - 58.1%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Peugeot 306 - 63.2%
• Isuzu Tf - 63.2%
• Suzuki Carry - 63.1%
• Fiat Punto Evo - 63%
• Hyundai Terracan - 63%
• Jaguar X-Type - 62.9%

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

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate