Mazda Cx-7
From 1,998 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Cx-7s fare better: 2012 models pass at 71.4% vs 67.4% for 2010.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, caused 117 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 steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 117 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 101 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 96 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 86 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 80 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 74 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 55 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 54 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 46 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 41 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 43.2% of failures are serious: 37.7% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 5.5% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £104.
Mazda Cx-7 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 290 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 290. At this rate, roughly 4.5 years until none remain. Now at 43.8% of its peak (2,980 in 2012 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 865 | 439 | +0 | -60 | -60 |
| 2025 Q2 | 927 | 437 | +0 | -79 | -79 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,011 | 432 | +0 | -73 | -73 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,075 | 441 | +0 | -78 | -78 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,153 | 441 | +0 | -67 | -67 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,225 | 436 | +0 | -87 | -87 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,327 | 421 | +0 | -45 | -45 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,388 | 405 | +1 | -36 | -35 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cx-7 Sport Tech D | Diesel | 650 | 75% |
| Cx-7 | Petrol | 215 | 25% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 71.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2011 | 73.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2010 | 67.4% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2009 | 73% | 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 |
2 earlier years
| 2008 | 66.5% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2007 | 62.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cx-7s tested had between 78,321 and 115,012 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 95,800 median miles, the Cx-7 has 0.032 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-7 MOT pass rate?
The Mazda Cx-7 has a 69.6% MOT pass rate based on 1,998 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mazda Cx-7?
The most common MOT failure on the Mazda Cx-7 is a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, which caused 117 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 Cx-7s are on UK roads?
There are 865 Mazda Cx-7s currently licensed on UK roads, with 439 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mazda Cx-7 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mazda Cx-7 is 95,800 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 78,321 and 115,012 miles.
Buying a used Cx-7?
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 69.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £104 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.