Mazda MX-5 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mazda MX-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 184,359 MOT tests across 32 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol
81%
Mazda MX-5 pass rate
81%
Mazda average
82%
All-model average
The Mazda MX-5 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is equal to the Mazda average and 1 point below the average across all models in our data. Newer Mazda MX-5s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 12 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Mazda MX-5 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 22,620 MOT tests on the Mazda MX-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
36%Cars and vans the same age: 37% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
32%Cars and vans the same age: 46% (the MX-5 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
29%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £80-£450
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
19%Cars and vans the same age: 15% (the MX-5 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
15%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (11% of failed tests, suspension)
- Position lamp: not working (8.5% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength (8.3% of failed tests, suspension)
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 MX-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 MX-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
- 1995: 74% passed, against 77% for all 1995 cars (3 points lower, 2,206 tests)
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 MX-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 | 1.5L | 96% | 4% | - |
| 2020 | Petrol | 1.5L | 96% | 4% | - |
| 2019 | Petrol | 1.5L | 95% | 5% | 91% (+4) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.5L | 94% | 6% | 89% (+5) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.5L | 94% | 6% | 87% (+7) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.5L | 91% | 8% | 86% (+5) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.5L | 90% | 10% | 84% (+6) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.8L | 89% | 11% | 82% (+7) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.8L | 87% | 12% | 80% (+7) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 1.8L | 85% | 14% | 79% (+6) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 1.8L | 83% | 16% | 77% (+6) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.8L | 83% | 17% | 75% (+8) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.8L | 82% | 18% | 75% (+7) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 1.8L | 80% | 20% | 74% (+6) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 1.8L | 79% | 20% | 73% (+6) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 1.8L | 77% | 22% | 73% (+4) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.6L | 74% | 24% | 73% (+1) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1.8L | 75% | 24% | 72% (+3) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.8L | 75% | 24% | 72% (+3) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.8L | 75% | 24% | 73% (+2) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.8L | 73% | 25% | 73% (0) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.8L | 73% | 26% | 74% (-1) |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.6L | 73% | 25% | 75% (-2) |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.6L | 75% | 23% | 76% (-1) |
| 1997 | Petrol | 1.8L | 76% | 23% | 76% (0) |
| 1996 | Petrol | 1.8L | 76% | 23% | 77% (-1) |
| 1995 | Petrol | 1.8L | 74% | 25% | 77% (-3) |
| 1994 | Petrol | 1.8L | 76% | 23% | 78% (-2) |
| 1993 | Petrol | 1.6L | 78% | 22% | 77% (+1) |
| 1992 | Petrol | 1.6L | 76% | 22% | 78% (-2) |
| 1991 | Petrol | 1.6L | 78% | 21% | 79% (-1) |
| 1990 | Petrol | 1.6L | 79% | 20% | 80% (-1) |
Mazda MX-5 Running Costs
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Mazda MX-5 FAQ
What are the most common Mazda MX-5 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mazda MX-5 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (36% of the 22,620 failed tests), lights and electrics (32%) and brakes (29%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (11%). Across 184,359 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 81% ended in a pass.
Is the Mazda MX-5 reliable?
The Mazda MX-5 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, from 184,359 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 4 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which Mazda MX-5 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 1995 (74% of 2,206 tests passed, against 77% for all 1995 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2010 (83% of 8,571 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars), the 2017 (94% of 8,344 tests passed, against 87% for all 2017 cars) and the 2009 (82% of 7,643 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars). 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 MX-5 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mazda MX-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