Mazda CX-3
From 33,253 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer CX-3s fare better: 2019 models pass at 90% vs 82.1% for 2015.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 673 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 tyre seriously damaged | 673 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 430 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 399 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 339 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 296 |
| seat belt retractor not functioning as intended | 203 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 170 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 120 |
| brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 111 |
| seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 106 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 52.8% of CX-3 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 10.4% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £106.
Mazda CX-3 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 208 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 205.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 24,077 | 186 | +1 | -49 | -48 |
| 2025 Q2 | 24,138 | 173 | +0 | -46 | -46 |
| 2025 Q1 | 24,189 | 168 | +2 | -113 | -111 |
| 2024 Q4 | 24,335 | 133 | +0 | -0 | +19 |
| 2024 Q3 | 24,327 | 122 | +0 | -3 | -3 |
| 2024 Q2 | 24,327 | 125 | +0 | -0 | +56 |
| 2024 Q1 | 24,276 | 120 | +0 | -0 | +33 |
| 2023 Q4 | 24,240 | 123 | +0 | -0 | +60 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cx-3 Sport Nav | Petrol | 5,311 | 23% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav + | Petrol | 3,580 | 16% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav Auto | Petrol | 2,319 | 10% |
| Cx-3 Se-L Nav | Petrol | 1,913 | 8% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav + Auto | Petrol | 1,908 | 8% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav D | Diesel | 1,254 | 6% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav 4X4 | Petrol | 903 | 4% |
| Cx-3 Se-L Nav + | Petrol | 777 | 3% |
| Cx-3 Se-L Nav + Auto | Petrol | 647 | 3% |
| Cx-3 Se-L Nav Auto | Petrol | 568 | 2% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav + 4X4 | Petrol | 490 | 2% |
| Cx-3 Gt Sport | Petrol | 486 | 2% |
| Cx-3 Se Nav | Petrol | 376 | 2% |
| Cx-3 Se-L Nav D | Diesel | 368 | 2% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav D 4X4 | Diesel | 345 | 2% |
| Cx-3 Gt Sport Nav + | Petrol | 338 | 1% |
| Cx-3 Sport Black + | Petrol | 324 | 1% |
| Cx-3 Se Nav + | Petrol | 323 | 1% |
| Cx-3 Sport Nav D 4X4 Auto | Diesel | 268 | 1% |
| Cx-3 Gt Sport Auto | Petrol | 248 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2018 | 89.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 87.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2016 | 83.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
1 earlier years
| 2015 | 82.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, seat belt retractor not functioning as intended |
Typical mileage
Half of all CX-3s tested had between 47,893 and 73,794 miles on the clock.
At 57,661 median miles, the CX-3 has 0.022 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 CX-3 MOT pass rate?
The Mazda CX-3 has a 87.3% MOT pass rate based on 33,253 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mazda CX-3?
The most common MOT failure on the Mazda CX-3 is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 673 failures. Other common issues include a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm.
How many Mazda CX-3s are on UK roads?
There are 24,077 Mazda CX-3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 186 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mazda CX-3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mazda CX-3 is 57,661 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 47,893 and 73,794 miles.
Buying a used CX-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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.