Mazda B Series
From 2,250 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 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, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing and or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, caused 145 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 145 |
| 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 | 126 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 122 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 104 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 97 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 88 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 81 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 72 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 64 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 63 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 34% of B Series failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 9.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £141.
Mazda B Series on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 293 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 293. At this rate, roughly 14.2 years until none remain. Now at 44% of its peak (9,414 in 2009 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,974 | 2,172 | +0 | -49 | -49 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,048 | 2,147 | +0 | -56 | -56 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,089 | 2,162 | +0 | -67 | -67 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,146 | 2,172 | +0 | -121 | -121 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,233 | 2,206 | +0 | -64 | -64 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,315 | 2,188 | +0 | -54 | -54 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,394 | 2,163 | +0 | -40 | -40 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,482 | 2,115 | +0 | -43 | -43 |
14 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2500 4-Style Double Cab | Diesel | 203 | 13% |
| B2500 4X2 Single Cab | Diesel | 200 | 13% |
| B2500 4X2 | Petrol | 179 | 11% |
| Bt-50 Ts2 4X4 | Diesel | 173 | 11% |
| Bt-50 Ts 4X4 | Diesel | 123 | 8% |
| Bt-50 4X2 | Diesel | 120 | 8% |
| B2500 4X4 Turbo Diesel | Petrol | 106 | 7% |
| B2500 4X4 Double Cab Td | Diesel | 105 | 7% |
| B2500 4X4 | Diesel | 86 | 5% |
| B2500 Double Cab 4X4 | Diesel | 66 | 4% |
| Bt-50 4X2 S/C | Diesel | 62 | 4% |
| Bt-50 4X4 | Diesel | 59 | 4% |
| B2500 4-Action Rap Cab | Diesel | 57 | 4% |
| B2500 4-Action | Diesel | 53 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 73.7% | 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, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
| 2005 | 67.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 71.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2003 | 64.9% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 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 |
4 earlier years
| 2002 | 67.2% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 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 |
| 2001 | 68.2% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2000 | 66.8% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
| 1999 | 65.6% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
Typical mileage
Half of all B Seriess tested had between 84,533 and 147,852 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 110,163 median miles, the B Series has 0.029 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 B Series MOT pass rate?
The Mazda B Series has a 67.9% MOT pass rate based on 2,250 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mazda B Series?
The most common MOT failure on the Mazda B Series is body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, which caused 145 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Mazda B Seriess are on UK roads?
There are 1,974 Mazda B Seriess currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,172 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mazda B Series at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mazda B Series is 110,163 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 84,533 and 147,852 miles.
Buying a used B Series?
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 67.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £141 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 34% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.