Mazda 3 - 2004
429.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2004.
Sample size: 748 cars, 1,608 tests and 6,901 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: 748 cars
The 2004 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 429 per 100 vehicles, which is 12% higher than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, defects related to brakes and steering are significantly lower than average, with the Mazda 3 showing 37% and 61% reductions, respectively. However, it performs worse in several categories, particularly in lights and electrics, where defects are 32% above average, as well as in wheels, suspensions, and body structure. Additionally, as mileage increases, the defect rate for the Mazda 3 rises more sharply than for the average car, especially for those over 124,000 miles. Overall, while the Mazda 3 excels in certain safety aspects, it faces challenges in electrical and structural reliability.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 748 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 35.0% better
106.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 60.6% better
9.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 20.1% better
23.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 30.3% worse
143.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
- 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
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 33.2% worse
416.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- 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
Body/Structure
▼ 36.3% worse
86.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 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
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 99.3% worse
27.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 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
- 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
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▲ 13.1% better
43.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 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
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Emissions test unable to be completed
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 693
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 562
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 489
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 324
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 311
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 282
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 245
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 238
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 215
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 201
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 238
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 140
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 115
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 83
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: 81
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 78
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 72
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 68
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 61
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 58