Mazda MX-5 reliability, MOT pass rate and rarity

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Mazda

Model: MX-5

Model reliability rank

MOT-based rank from 576,852 selected-period tests.

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Overall MOT pass rate

78.4%

Share of this model's 576,852 selected-period MOT tests that pass.

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Efficiency, emissions & tax

Average MPG

44.6 mpg

CO2 emission

143 g/km

Euro emissions

Euro 6

Tax cost

£215/yr

Vehicle list price over £40,000?NoYes

Average vehicle miles

72,680

Moderate average mileage in the current pool.

Life expectancy miles

78,677

Lower mature-fleet mileage expectation.

Average vehicle age

18.4

Older average age in the represented fleet.

Vehicles represented

79,567

79,566 valid MOT, 1 under 3 years.

Tests analysed

576,852

576,852 MOT tests in the selected period.

Rarity ranking

Based on Make & Model

Uncommon

79,567On the road

Insight summary

Mazda MX-5 is an uncommon model in this snapshot, with 79,567 represented vehicles and 0.19% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 78.4% from 576,852 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 60. The current pool shows an average of 72,680 miles and an average age of 18.4 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 78,677 miles. Petrol leads the fuel split, followed by other, and the most frequent defect themes are exhaust emissions, windscreen damage and parking brake. The practical read is that the Mazda MX-5 looks a little better than average, but still rewards careful checks on mileage and maintenance.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)

Fuel	Vehicles
PETROL	79,320
OTHER	237
DIESEL	5
ELECTRIC	2
LPG	2
GAS BI-FUEL	1

Euro NCAP Safety

No NCAP tests found for this model.

Top 25 most common defects (by model)

Defect	Count
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	8,639
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))	7,455
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	5,610
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	5,393
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	5,356
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	5,138
Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))	4,957
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	4,829
Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))	4,691
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	4,577
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	4,026
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	3,925
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	3,894
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))	3,733
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))	3,318
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))	3,275
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))	3,095
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	3,076
Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))	3,026
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))	3,006
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	2,938
Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))	2,727
Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))	2,710
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))	2,693
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))	2,590

All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 104,677 defects across this top 25 set

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

8,639

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

7,455

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

5,610

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

5,393

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

5,356

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

5,138

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

4,957

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

4,829

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

4,691

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

4,577

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

4,026

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

3,925

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

3,894

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

3,733

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

3,318

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

3,275

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

3,095

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

3,076

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

3,026

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

3,006

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

2,938

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

2,727

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

2,710

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

2,693

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

2,590

Mazda MX-5 reliability and MOT data