Mazda E Series
From 1,650 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced. The top issue, 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, caused 153 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 153 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 96 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 90 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 72 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 55 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 49 |
| 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 | 45 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 43 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 41 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 39 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.6% of E Series failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 14.1% 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 £173.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 69.9% while Diesel versions pass at 64.5%, a 5 percentage point gap.
Mazda E Series on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 54 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 54. At this rate, roughly 11 years until none remain. Now at 3.8% of its peak (16,383 in 1997 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 178 | 438 | +0 | -5 | -5 |
| 2025 Q2 | 182 | 439 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2025 Q1 | 191 | 434 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| 2024 Q4 | 196 | 443 | +0 | -31 | -31 |
| 2024 Q3 | 213 | 457 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2024 Q2 | 225 | 463 | +0 | -5 | -5 |
| 2024 Q1 | 232 | 461 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
| 2023 Q4 | 248 | 461 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 74.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective |
| 2015 | 69.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 2001 | 63.2% | 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2000 | 67.3% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
Typical mileage
Half of all E Seriess tested had between 83,793 and 134,451 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 101,964 median miles, the E Series has 0.031 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 E Series MOT pass rate?
The Mazda E Series has a 68.8% MOT pass rate based on 1,650 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mazda E Series?
The most common MOT failure on the Mazda E Series is 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, which caused 153 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Mazda E Seriess are on UK roads?
There are 178 Mazda E Seriess currently licensed on UK roads, with 438 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mazda E Series at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mazda E Series is 101,964 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 83,793 and 134,451 miles.
Buying a used E 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 68.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £173 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 41.6% 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.