How reliable is the Mazda RX-7 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Mazda RX-7, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 86.4% across 552 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Mazda RX-7?

The item recorded most often is "Emissions levels exceed default limits", which appears in 16.4% of failed Mazda RX-7 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 RX-7?

The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 8.9% of all Mazda RX-7 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Mazda RX-7 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 75,291 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.

Model reliability file

Mazda RX-7 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 552 recorded MOT tests of the Mazda RX-7, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 552 MOT tests, 86.4% of Mazda RX-7 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Mazda RX-7 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is emissions levels exceed default limits, which appears in 16.4% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 75,291 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

86.4%unadjusted, not comparable552 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the RX-7. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 552 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Mazda RX-7 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Emissions levels exceed default limits16.4%
9 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
2.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning14.5%
8 occurrencesLamp not working explained
3.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 repaired12.7%
7 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
4.An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.9%
6 occurrencesLamp not working explained
5.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement10.9%
6 occurrencesParking brake efficiency too low explained
6.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake9.1%
5 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
7.A tyre cords visible or damaged9.1%
5 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
8.Emissions levels exceed default limits9.1%
5 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
9.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer9.1%
5 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
10.Emissions levels exceed default limits9.1%
5 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Mazda RX-7 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users8.9%
49 tests
2.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.3%
29 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements4.9%
27 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded4.3%
24 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
5.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured4.2%
23 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn3.6%
20 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
7.A wheel bearing with excessive play3.3%
18 testsWheel bearing has excessive play or is rough explained
8.A tyre seriously damaged2.9%
16 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

What gets tested

The RX-7 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 75,291
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol99.8%

Check a specific Mazda RX-7

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 MX-5 — 77.2% adjusted
Mazda CX-5 — 78.5% adjusted
Mazda 6 — 73.3% adjusted
Mazda CX-3 — 83.5% unadjusted
All Mazda models

Common questions

How reliable is the Mazda RX-7 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Mazda RX-7, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 86.4% across 552 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mazda RX-7?: The item recorded most often is "Emissions levels exceed default limits", which appears in 16.4% of failed Mazda RX-7 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 RX-7?: The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 8.9% of all Mazda RX-7 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Mazda RX-7 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 75,291 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.

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. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

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.