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Mazda 3 - 1997

358.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 1997. Sample size: 120 cars, 238 tests and 853 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 120 cars

The 1997 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 358 per 100 vehicles, which is 7% higher than the average for cars of the same year. This model shows particular strengths in steering and lights & electrics, with significantly lower defect rates compared to the average. However, it performs worse in areas such as wheels, suspensions & axles, and body/structure, where defect rates are notably higher than the yearly average. Mileage trends indicate increased defects in higher mileage categories, especially for those over 124,000 miles, where the defect rate is almost 517 per 100 vehicles.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 120 cars

More model years for Mazda 3

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Mazda

Mazda 2 Mazda 3 Mazda 5 Mazda 6 Mazda BONGO Mazda BT-50 Mazda CX-3 Mazda CX-30 Mazda CX-5 Mazda CX-7 Mazda EUNOS Mazda MX-30 Mazda MX-5 Mazda RX-8

Categories

Brakes
▲ 8.3% better
129.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
Steering
▲ 60.2% better
10.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 19.8% better
20.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 30.7% better
45.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 30.4% worse
326.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▼ 42.4% worse
119.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 43.0% better
12.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
  • Audible warning:
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▲ 14.6% better
52.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 535 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 77
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 61
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 47
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 35
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 33
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 30
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 30
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 29
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 28

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 6