Mazda Bongo Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mazda Bongo fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 19,224 MOT tests across 27 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol, LPG, Diesel
69%
Mazda Bongo pass rate
81%
Mazda average
82%
All-model average
The Mazda Bongo has an average MOT pass rate of 69%, which is 12 points below the Mazda average and 13 points below the average across all models in our data. The Mazda Bongo has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 0 percentage points.
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What the Mazda Bongo Fails Its MOT On
Of the 3,993 MOT tests on the Mazda Bongo that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
54%Cars and vans the same age: 45% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
48%Cars and vans the same age: 36% (the Bongo fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Body, chassis and structure
30%Cars and vans the same age: 20% (the Bongo fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
Brakes
25%Cars and vans the same age: 28% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
20%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength (23% of failed tests, suspension)
- Rear fog lamp: not working (16% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (13% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Mazda Bongo Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Bongo year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Mazda Bongo Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 2.0L | 76% | 24% | - |
| 2020 | Petrol | 2.0L | 74% | 26% | - |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 22% | - |
| 2018 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | - |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | - |
| 2016 | Petrol | 2.5L | 72% | 27% | - |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 27% | - |
| 2014 | Petrol | 2.0L | 68% | 31% | - |
| 2013 | Petrol | 2.0L | 65% | 33% | - |
| 2012 | Petrol | 2.0L | 68% | 31% | - |
| 2011 | LPG | 2.0L | 65% | 34% | - |
| 2010 | Petrol | 0.0L | 64% | 36% | - |
| 2009 | Petrol | 2.5L | 63% | 35% | - |
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.5L | 66% | 34% | 74% (-8) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 1.8L | 63% | 35% | 73% (-10) |
| 2006 | Diesel | 2.5L | 67% | 32% | 73% (-6) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.0L | 68% | 30% | 73% (-5) |
| 2004 | Diesel | 2.5L | 70% | 28% | 72% (-2) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 2.0L | 71% | 26% | - |
| 2002 | Petrol | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 2.0L | 74% | 24% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 2.0L | 73% | 26% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 2.0L | 69% | 30% | - |
| 1997 | Petrol | 2.5L | 71% | 29% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 2.5L | 65% | 33% | - |
| 1995 | Petrol | 2.0L | 64% | 34% | - |
Mazda Bongo Running Costs
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Mazda Bongo FAQ
What are the most common Mazda Bongo problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mazda Bongo that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (54% of the 3,993 failed tests), suspension (48%) and body, chassis and structure (30%). The single most common fault was "Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength" (23%). Across 19,224 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 69% ended in a pass.
Is the Mazda Bongo reliable?
The Mazda Bongo has an average MOT pass rate of 69%, from 19,224 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 6 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Mazda Bongo years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2007 (63% of 1,331 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars), the 2008 (66% of 1,072 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars) and the 2006 (67% of 1,233 tests passed, against 73% for all 2006 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Mazda Bongo faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mazda Bongo typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Mazda Models
Common problems pages for other Mazda models