Is the Mazda MX-5 reliable?

On MOT evidence the Mazda MX-5 is above average. It passes 77.2% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 85 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Mazda MX-5?

The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 15.6% of failed Mazda MX-5 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Mazda MX-5?

The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 15.2% of all Mazda MX-5 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Mazda MX-5 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 64,387 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Does a Mazda MX-5 get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 93.6% of Mazda MX-5 tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 67.7%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Model reliability file

Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 90,753 recorded MOT tests of the Mazda MX-5, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Mazda MX-5 passes 77.2% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is above average, ranking it 85 of 262 models with enough data to compare fairly. Based on 90,753 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which appears in 15.6% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 64,387 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

77.2%national average72.3%unadjusted74.9%range covered92%rank85 of 262

The MX-5 is 4.9 percentage points above the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is above average. The unadjusted figure is 74.9%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Mazda MX-5 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened15.6%
2,998 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
2.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired15.5%
2,972 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
3.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake9.2%
1,761 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
4.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer8.7%
1,675 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
5.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired8.4%
1,619 occurrencesSeat belt anchorage corroded or weakened explained
6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.2%
1,575 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
7.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.6%
1,463 occurrencesLamp not working explained
8.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.4%
1,430 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
9.Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced6.7%
1,292 occurrencesCorrosion in a structural area explained
10.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements6.2%
1,188 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Mazda MX-5 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.A tyre seriously damaged15.2%
13,784 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured14.5%
13,119 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements12.3%
11,123 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded9.9%
9,018 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
5.A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded9.0%
8,198 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
6.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.3%
7,547 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
7.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.7%
5,182 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
8.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded5.1%
4,670 testsBrake pipe corroded explained

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by vehicle age

3–5 yrs94%

6–8 yrs90%

9–11 yrs84%

12–14 yrs78%

15+ yrs68%

Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The MX-5 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 64,387
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol100.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (19)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

MX-5 1.8
MX-5 100TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
MX-5 GT SPORT TECH
MX-5 HOMURA
MX-5 R-SPORT
MX-5 RF EXCLUSIVE-LINE
MX-5 RF GT SPORT TECH
MX-5 RF GT SPORT TECH AUTO
MX-5 RF HOMURA
MX-5 RF SE-L
MX-5 RF SPORT
MX-5 RF SPORT TECH
MX-5 RF SPORT TECH AUTO
MX-5 ROADSTER SPORT BLACK
MX-5 SPORT
MX-5 SPORT NAV
MX-5 SPORT NAV+
MX-5 SPORT TECH
MX-5 SPORT VENTURE

Check a specific Mazda MX-5

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Mazda models

Mazda 2 — 69.8% adjusted
Mazda 3 — 70.6% adjusted
Mazda CX-5 — 78.5% adjusted
Mazda 6 — 73.3% adjusted
Mazda CX-3 — 83.5% unadjusted
Mazda CX-30 — 91.3% unadjusted
All Mazda models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Renault Megane — 63.3% adjusted, ranked 238
Mercedes-Benz GLA — 82.3% adjusted, ranked 35
BMW X5 — 81.8% adjusted, ranked 41
Nissan X-Trail — 70.5% adjusted, ranked 167

Common questions

Is the Mazda MX-5 reliable?: On MOT evidence the Mazda MX-5 is above average. It passes 77.2% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 85 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mazda MX-5?: The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 15.6% of failed Mazda MX-5 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Mazda MX-5?: The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 15.2% of all Mazda MX-5 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Mazda MX-5 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 64,387 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Does a Mazda MX-5 get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 93.6% of Mazda MX-5 tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 67.7%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.