Mazda CX-5 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mazda CX-5 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 102,590 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
86%
Mazda CX-5 pass rate
81%
Mazda average
82%
All-model average
The Mazda CX-5 has an average MOT pass rate of 86%, which is 5 points above the Mazda average and 4 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Mazda CX-5s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 9 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Mazda CX-5 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 12,565 MOT tests on the Mazda CX-5 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.
Suspension
37%Cars and vans the same age: 28% (the CX-5 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
22%Cars and vans the same age: 20% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
19%Cars and vans the same age: 26% (the CX-5 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Steering
18%Cars and vans the same age: 6.3% (the CX-5 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
Lights and electrics
18%Cars and vans the same age: 32% (the CX-5 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (14% of failed tests, steering)
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (13% of failed tests, suspension)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (13% of failed tests, brakes)
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 CX-5 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 CX-5 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
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same 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 CX-5 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 | 2.5L | 95% | 5% | - |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.2L | 93% | 7% | 92% (+1) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 8% | 91% (0) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 9% | 89% (+2) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | 87% (+1) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 2.5L | 85% | 14% | 86% (-1) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 84% | 16% | 84% (0) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 2.5L | 81% | 18% | 82% (-1) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | 80% (-2) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.2L | 78% | 21% | 79% (-1) |
Mazda CX-5 Running Costs
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Mazda CX-5 FAQ
What are the most common Mazda CX-5 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mazda CX-5 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (37% of the 12,565 failed tests), brakes (22%) and tyres (19%). The single most common fault was "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play" (14%). Across 102,590 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 86% ended in a pass.
Is the Mazda CX-5 reliable?
The Mazda CX-5 has an average MOT pass rate of 86%, from 102,590 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 about as often as other cars of the same age.
Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?
No Mazda CX-5 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). 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 CX-5 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mazda CX-5 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