In 2025, 104,206 Mazda 3 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 69% passed first time, compared with 70% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 3 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 153 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 92% of 3s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 48% (all cars: 58%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 8 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
Mazda 3 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 3 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 2,415 | 92% | 88% | 24,876 |
| 4 years | 3,874 | 89% | 87% | 30,585 |
| 5 years | 4,133 | 87% | 86% | 35,631 |
| 6 years | 4,381 | 87% | 84% | 41,547 |
| 7 years | 7,052 | 83% | 81% | 49,488 |
| 8 years | 8,187 | 74% | 78% | 58,573 |
| 9 years | 10,480 | 73% | 75% | 67,520 |
| 10 years | 11,621 | 70% | 72% | 76,014 |
| 11 years | 8,174 | 70% | 69% | 81,042 |
| 12 years | 5,007 | 68% | 66% | 83,605 |
| 13 years | 4,677 | 63% | 63% | 93,774 |
| 14 years | 5,071 | 56% | 61% | 97,259 |
| 15 years | 7,549 | 58% | 59% | 102,690 |
| 16 years | 6,613 | 56% | 58% | 102,335 |
| 17 years | 5,295 | 51% | 57% | 102,602 |
| 18 years | 4,158 | 52% | 57% | 105,693 |
| 19 years | 2,901 | 51% | 57% | 106,373 |
| 20 years | 1,935 | 48% | 58% | 105,593 |
What fails most on a Mazda 3
The area that lets the 3 down most, relative to other cars, is suspension: 20.5% of tests failed on it, 1.5 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on steering and body and structure.
Share of 3 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 8.6% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 5.2% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 4.7% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.2% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 3.6% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.3% |
What to check when buying a used 3
Based on where the 3 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 3
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 3Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Mazda 3?
In 2025, 69% of Mazda 3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 104,206 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 70%.
What do Mazda 3 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (8.6% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (5.2% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.7% of tests).
Other Mazda models
Mazda 2 (67%), Mazda MX-5 (74%), Mazda CX-5 (78%), Mazda 6 (69%), Mazda CX-3 (83%). All Mazda models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.