Mazda 5
From 15,846 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 5s fare better: 2015 models pass at 74.5% vs 57% for 2006.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 and a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 2,381 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 | 2,381 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 659 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 608 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 549 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 515 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 453 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 439 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 418 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 417 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 410 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 18.6% of 5 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 47.4% 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 £131.
Mazda 5 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,489 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 1,486. At this rate, roughly 6.4 years until none remain. Now at 40.1% of its peak (23,941 in 2015 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 7,908 | 1,681 | +3 | -344 | -341 |
| 2025 Q2 | 8,270 | 1,660 | +0 | -333 | -333 |
| 2025 Q1 | 8,613 | 1,650 | +0 | -382 | -382 |
| 2024 Q4 | 9,020 | 1,625 | +0 | -430 | -430 |
| 2024 Q3 | 9,468 | 1,607 | +0 | -440 | -440 |
| 2024 Q2 | 9,932 | 1,583 | +1 | -397 | -396 |
| 2024 Q1 | 10,313 | 1,598 | +2 | -488 | -486 |
| 2023 Q4 | 10,857 | 1,540 | +0 | -387 | -387 |
15 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sport | Petrol | 1,604 | 21% |
| 5 Ts2 | Petrol | 1,523 | 19% |
| 5 Sport Venture D | Diesel | 741 | 9% |
| 5 Furano | Petrol | 622 | 8% |
| 5 Venture Edition D | Diesel | 497 | 6% |
| 5 Sport D | Diesel | 487 | 6% |
| 5 Venture Edition | Petrol | 418 | 5% |
| 5 Sport Venture | Petrol | 385 | 5% |
| 5 Ts | Diesel | 301 | 4% |
| 5 Ts2 Auto | Petrol | 274 | 4% |
| 5 Takara | Petrol | 270 | 3% |
| 5 Ts2 D | Diesel | 258 | 3% |
| 5 Sport Nav D | Diesel | 165 | 2% |
| 5 Sport Nav | Petrol | 149 | 2% |
| 5 Takara Auto | Petrol | 126 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 74.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 69.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 71.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2012 | 69.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
7 earlier years
| 2011 | 68.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 61.3% | 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 | 62.7% | 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 | 61.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 59.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 57% | 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 | 54.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all 5s tested had between 74,363 and 119,042 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 100,064 median miles, the 5 has 0.036 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mazda models
| Mazda 2 | 74.5% |
| Mazda 3 | 75.2% |
| Mazda MX-5 | 78.7% |
| Mazda 6 | 75.5% |
| Mazda CX-5 | 84.2% |
Common questions
What is the Mazda 5 MOT pass rate?
The Mazda 5 has a 63.5% MOT pass rate based on 15,846 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mazda 5?
The most common MOT failure on the Mazda 5 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 2,381 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Mazda 5s are on UK roads?
There are 7,908 Mazda 5s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,681 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mazda 5 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mazda 5 is 100,064 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 74,363 and 119,042 miles.
Buying a used 5?
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 63.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £131 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.