Mazda 3 - 2001
453.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2001 is 372.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2001.
Sample size: 132 cars, 283 tests and 1,282 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 132 cars
The 2001 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 453 per 100 vehicles, which is 22.8% higher than the average for its year, at 369 per 100. Notably, the model shows significantly fewer issues with brakes and steering compared to the average, with defect rates 28% and 34% lower, respectively. However, it performs worse in the areas of lights and electrics, and wheels, suspensions, and axles, with defect rates higher than the average by 21% and a striking 73%, respectively. Mileage trends reveal a consistent increase in defects with higher mileage, particularly in the over 124,000 miles category, where the defect rate is markedly elevated.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 132 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 28.1% better
120.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 167.0 / 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
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 34.8% better
16.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.0 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 18.4% better
24.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.4 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 21.1% worse
106.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 88.1 / 100 tests
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 71.4% worse
501.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 292.4 / 100 tests
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 17.4% better
59.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 71.9 / 100 tests
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 9.9% worse
17.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.1 / 100 tests
- 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
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- 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
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▼ 9.4% worse
60.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 55.6 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 116
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 115
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 101
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 74
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 56
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 53
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 47
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 43
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 40
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 47
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 7