Mazda 3
From 175,205 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 3s fare better: 2022 models pass at 96% vs 56.9% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 10,107 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 10,107 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 4,939 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 4,067 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 3,754 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 3,715 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,594 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,847 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,632 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,259 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 2,204 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 17.8% of 3 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 44.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £121.
The warranty question
A new 3 passes its MOT 90.4% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 79.6%, a 10.8 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 75.4%. With an average repair bill of £121 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a 3 that's past its third birthday.
Mazda 3 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 5,593 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3,888 newly registered, a net loss of 1,705. At this rate, roughly 66.4 years until none remain. Now at 89.6% of its peak (126,221 in 2018 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 107,671 | 5,444 | +840 | -1,576 | -736 |
| 2025 Q2 | 108,570 | 5,281 | +1,043 | -1,380 | -337 |
| 2025 Q1 | 108,932 | 5,256 | +1,461 | -1,523 | -62 |
| 2024 Q4 | 109,131 | 5,119 | +544 | -1,114 | -570 |
| 2024 Q3 | 109,924 | 4,896 | +596 | -1,627 | -1,031 |
| 2024 Q2 | 111,098 | 4,753 | +582 | -1,247 | -665 |
| 2024 Q1 | 111,740 | 4,776 | +842 | -1,399 | -557 |
| 2023 Q4 | 112,503 | 4,570 | +425 | -966 | -541 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Sport Nav | Petrol | 14,889 | 19% |
| 3 Se-L Nav | Petrol | 8,679 | 11% |
| 3 Ts | Diesel | 6,005 | 8% |
| 3 Ts2 | Gas | 4,749 | 6% |
| 3 Sport | Gas | 4,555 | 6% |
| 3 Sport Nav D | Diesel | 4,176 | 5% |
| 3 Takuya | Petrol | 3,680 | 5% |
| 3 Tamura | Petrol | 3,645 | 5% |
| 3 Sport Lux Mhev | Petrol | 3,155 | 4% |
| 3 Gt Sport Mhev | Petrol | 2,870 | 4% |
| 3 Sport Nav Auto | Petrol | 2,798 | 4% |
| 3 Se-L Lux Mhev | Petrol | 2,382 | 3% |
| 3 Se-L Nav Auto | Petrol | 2,244 | 3% |
| 3 Gt Sport Tech Mhev | Petrol | 2,174 | 3% |
| 3 Se Nav | Petrol | 2,169 | 3% |
| 3 Se | Petrol | 2,152 | 3% |
| 3 Se-L | Petrol | 2,112 | 3% |
| 3 Venture Edition | Petrol | 2,033 | 3% |
| 3 Takara | Petrol | 1,918 | 2% |
| 3 Takara Auto | Petrol | 1,786 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 96% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2021 | 90.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2020 | 90.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2019 | 88.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
15 earlier years
| 2018 | 85.9% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 81.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2016 | 79.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2015 | 78.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2014 | 77.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2013 | 75.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 73.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2010 | 69% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 65.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2008 | 63.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2007 | 62.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 60.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2005 | 59.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2004 | 56.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all 3s tested had between 76,472 and 117,916 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 102,122 median miles, the 3 has 0.024 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mazda models
| Mazda 2 | 74.5% |
| Mazda MX-5 | 78.7% |
| Mazda 6 | 75.5% |
| Mazda CX-5 | 84.2% |
| Mazda CX-3 | 87.3% |
Common questions
What is the Mazda 3 MOT pass rate?
The Mazda 3 has a 75.2% MOT pass rate based on 175,205 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mazda 3?
The most common MOT failure on the Mazda 3 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 10,107 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Mazda 3s are on UK roads?
There are 107,671 Mazda 3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,444 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mazda 3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mazda 3 is 102,122 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,472 and 117,916 miles.
Buying a used 3?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 75.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £121 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.