Mazda 3 - 2002
387.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2002 is 375.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2002.
Sample size: 175 cars, 361 tests and 1,397 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: 175 cars
The 2002 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 387 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly higher than the average of 374 per 100 vehicles for the same year, representing a 3.4% increase. Notably, the Mazda 3 shows significantly fewer issues with brakes and steering compared to the average, with defect rates 22.7% and 49.3% lower, respectively. However, it faces a higher incidence of problems in categories like wheels, suspensions, and body structure, with defects 24.8% and 49.6% above the average, respectively. Mileage-related trends indicate that defects increase with higher mileage, particularly peaking in the highest mileage category of over 124,000 miles. Overall, while the Mazda 3 excels in braking and steering, it struggles with structural and suspension-related issues.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 175 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 21.4% better
131.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 167.0 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 49.8% better
12.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 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
▼ 1.0% worse
29.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.6 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 25.5% better
71.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 96.0 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Beam image obviously incorrect
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Headlamp reflector or lens: seriously defective or missing
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 23.7% worse
365.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 295.2 / 100 tests
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▼ 45.6% worse
100.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.9 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- 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
▼ 26.2% worse
18.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.9 / 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: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- ESC 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
- A seat belt:
Other
▲ 17.4% better
44.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.6 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
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: 88
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 82
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 79
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 77
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 72
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 69
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 64
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 64
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 61
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 52
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 69
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 27
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 20
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 11