Mazda 3 - 2003
378.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2003.
Sample size: 234 cars, 483 tests and 1,829 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: 234 cars
The 2003 Mazda 3 shows a slightly higher overall defect rate of 379 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 378 defects per 100 vehicles for its year. Notably, it performs better in categories such as brakes, steering, visibility, and lights, with significant reductions in defect rates compared to averages in those areas. However, it struggles with wheels, suspensions, axles, and body/structure defects, which are more prevalent in this model compared to the average. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with distance, particularly for vehicles with over 124,000 miles. Overall, while the Mazda 3 has strengths in certain safety-related categories, it faces challenges in structural and suspension issues.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 234 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 19.8% better
135.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 36.1% better
16.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- 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.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 26.5% better
21.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 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: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 26.7% better
75.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- 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
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 20.2% worse
363.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- 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
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▼ 28.2% worse
83.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 2.2% better
13.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 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
- 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
- Audible warning:
Other
▲ 9.7% better
47.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- 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
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
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: 146
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 133
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 109
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 100
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 91
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 90
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 89
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 85
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 77
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 68
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 109
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 20
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: 20
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 12