Mazda 3 MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Mazda 3. Check any 3 by registration number below.
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75.2%
Avg Pass Rate
-4.3%
vs Mazda Avg
20
Year Ranges
Good
Reliability
Mazda 3 — MOT Reliability Overview
The Mazda 3 has an average MOT pass rate of 75.2%, which is 4.3 percentage points below the Mazda brand average of 79.6%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your 3 on the road.
The most common reasons a Mazda 3 fails its MOT are lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, suspension, brakes. If you are preparing your 3 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Typical mileage for the 3 is around 38,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used 3, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.
Before buying a used Mazda 3, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Mazda 3 performs at MOT across different model years.
2022
Based on 241 vehicles
1.7%
1.7%
34k mi
2021
Based on 6,228 vehicles
2.6%
6.8%
37k mi
2020
Based on 10,523 vehicles
2.5%
6.3%
34k mi
51k mi
2019
Based on 10,894 vehicles
2.8%
9.3%
35k mi
55k mi
2018
Based on 16,874 vehicles
5.3%
14.0%
57k mi
2017
Based on 19,447 vehicles
6.1%
19.8%
70k mi
2016
Based on 25,341 vehicles
6.6%
22.0%
2015
Based on 28,034 vehicles
6.4%
22.5%
123k mi
2014
Based on 19,969 vehicles
7.2%
23.9%
120k mi
2013
Based on 12,193 vehicles
7.5%
25.1%
116k mi
2012
Based on 11,958 vehicles
7.8%
24.8%
131k mi
2011
Based on 12,952 vehicles
8.4%
31.8%
2010
Based on 20,171 vehicles
8.2%
31.5%
2009
Based on 18,676 vehicles
9.3%
33.2%
2008
Based on 15,655 vehicles
9.4%
34.8%
2007
Based on 13,215 vehicles
9.3%
32.9%
2006
Based on 9,982 vehicles
8.9%
31.0%
2005
Based on 7,060 vehicles
9.4%
30.1%
2004
Based on 2,124 vehicles
8.9%
30.9%
2003
Based on 28,000 vehicles
1.4%
11.2%
22k mi
38k mi
72k mi
Top MOT Failures — Mazda 3
The most common reasons a Mazda 3 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Suspension
Brakes
Tyres
Exhaust, fuel and emissions
Where Failures Occur
The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.
Nearside
Offside
Front Offside
Typical Mileage — Mazda 3
Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2003 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used 3.
At 3 Years
22,000
miles
At 5 Years
38,000
miles
At 10 Years
72,000
miles
Other Mazda Models
Compare MOT reliability across Mazda models.
Mazda 3 — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Mazda 3 MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mazda 3?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mazda 3?
Is the Mazda 3 reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Mazda 3?
What mileage should I expect on a Mazda 3?
Check Your Mazda 3's MOT History
Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.