In 2025, 55,178 Mazda 6 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 69% passed first time, compared with 69% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 6 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 143 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 5 years old, 89% of 6s passed first time (all cars that age: 86%). By 20 years, that figure is 52% (all cars: 58%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 17 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
Mazda 6 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 6 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 1,043 | 89% | 86% | 41,002 |
| 6 years | 4,388 | 87% | 84% | 53,517 |
| 7 years | 3,212 | 82% | 81% | 64,435 |
| 8 years | 4,649 | 77% | 78% | 76,041 |
| 9 years | 6,718 | 74% | 75% | 84,660 |
| 10 years | 6,261 | 71% | 72% | 93,974 |
| 11 years | 5,705 | 68% | 69% | 101,973 |
| 12 years | 3,758 | 66% | 66% | 106,212 |
| 13 years | 2,556 | 60% | 63% | 107,105 |
| 14 years | 3,348 | 59% | 61% | 116,884 |
| 15 years | 4,196 | 58% | 59% | 122,592 |
| 16 years | 3,004 | 59% | 58% | 123,139 |
| 17 years | 2,510 | 54% | 57% | 125,366 |
| 18 years | 1,767 | 53% | 57% | 108,184 |
| 19 years | 966 | 55% | 57% | 101,718 |
| 20 years | 563 | 52% | 58% | 97,975 |
What fails most on a Mazda 6
The area that lets the 6 down most, relative to other cars, is brakes: 17.4% of tests failed on it, 1.7 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and steering.
Share of 6 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 | 5.7% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 5.2% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.6% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 3.6% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 3.5% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 3.4% |
What to check when buying a used 6
Based on where the 6 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- 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
- 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
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. 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 6
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 6Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Mazda 6?
In 2025, 69% of Mazda 6 cars passed their MOT first time, across 55,178 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 69%.
What do Mazda 6 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.7% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (5.2% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (4.6% of tests).
Other Mazda models
Mazda 2 (67%), Mazda 3 (69%), Mazda MX-5 (74%), Mazda CX-5 (78%), 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.