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. The Mazda Cx-7 sits 13.6 points below the national average, ranked 1,895 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 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Mazda Cx-7s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mazda Cx-7

1. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 9.5% of tests (7.25x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 2.5% of tests (6.92x the national rate for this defect)
3. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 7% of tests (5.37x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 2.9% of tests (4.9x 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, 7.8% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 7.8% of tests (3.3x 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, 2.7% of tests (2.85x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.9% of tests (2.82x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.2% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.5% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,301 DVSA-tracked Mazda Cx-7 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.46% of these flagged Mazda Cx-7 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mazda Cx-7

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 Cx-7 before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 42% of tests (8.12x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2% of tests (7.94x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. 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, 10.7% of tests (7.04x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 7.1% of tests (6.46x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 7.3% of tests (5.87x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 6.4% of tests (4.78x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 28.6% of tests (2.14x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 11.6% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.4% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 41.4% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this advisory)

From 1,301 DVSA-tracked Mazda Cx-7 tests, 2024.

Mazda Cx-7 pass rate by model year

From its 2010 to its 2011 model year, the Mazda Cx-7's first-time pass rate has risen 2.3 points, from 61.8% to 64.1%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. 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

The Mazda Cx-7's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.3 points: diesel passes first time 63.1% of the time (955 tests) against 64.4% for petrol (337 tests).

• 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
• 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